The NCAA is investigating the Florida State football program regarding the 2022 recruitment of quarterback Jaden Rashada, a person interviewed and a second person briefed on the investigation confirmed. The Athletic.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that the NCAA sent a notice of investigation to the school last summer, but the letter did not specify what was being investigated. A person interviewed on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter said he was asked about players who committed to Florida that year.
Rashada, a 2023 graduate and four-star recruit out of Northern California, was the subject of an intense 2022 NIL bidding war involving boosters from Florida and Miami. On November 10, 2022, Rashada, who had previously committed to Miami, signed a contract with the now-defunct Gator Collective that promised a staggering $13.85 million over four years. The Athletic It was reported in February last year. Rashada announced his commitment to Florida that night.
However, the group abandoned the agreement less than a month later. Rashada continued to sign with Florida during the December contract period, but did not enroll in January and requested a release from his letter of intent. He then signed with Arizona State University and appeared in three games last season, starting in the Sun Devils’ season opener.
“We have and will continue to cooperate with the NCAA,” Florida Senior Associate Athletic Director Steve McClain said in a statement. “We maintain high standards of excellence and integrity on and off the field. We follow NCAA policy regarding confidentiality and therefore cannot provide additional comment.”
The NCAA is investigating University of Florida officials Marcus Castro-Walker (listed on the school’s website as director of player engagement and NIL) and booster Hugh Hathcock, according to two people familiar with the investigation. The company reportedly inquired about the role (promising $12.60). In April 2022, he donated $1 million to the Florida Department of Athletics and later launched the Gator Guard Collective. Multiple Hathcock tweets posted shortly before Rashada’s commitment hinted at big days ahead for Florida and hinted at his possible involvement in the deal.
Florida State could become the third school in the state to face NCAA penalties for NIL or NIL-adjacent activities. Last February, Miami (Fla.) women’s basketball coach Katie Meyer was charged with two Level II violations, but the violations were reduced in a negotiated resolution that resulted in one year of probation and recruiting sanctions. It was done. The violation concerned facilitating impermissible contact between booster John Lewis and the Cavinder Twins, who joined the Miami team.
Earlier this month, the NCAA imposed penalties, also in a negotiated resolution, over impermissible contact between Florida State University’s football team, offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, a transfer candidate and a booster. Atkins drove then-Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims to meet with representatives of the Rising Spear collective in 2022, but later provided false or misleading information about it. Atkins was given a show course fine, FSU was given a fine, probation and reduced scholarships, and the school was suspended from Collective for one year and Booster for three years.
Although the NIL has changed college sports, NCAA rules do not allow it to be used for recruiting purposes. Recent rule changes have allowed schools to match athletes with boosters, but only registered players, not prospects.
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