Report: FAU files lawsuit against four former football players for breach of NIL contracts
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Florida Atlantic University has reportedly filed suit against four former football players that transferred from the program in an effort to recoup tens of thousands of dollars in “liquidated damages,” according to TapInto Boca Raton.
FAU reportedly filed the suit May 18 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, claiming former Owls players Zion Paret, Gemari Sands, Tyler Stolsky and Asaad Waseem were in breach of NIL contracts signed last year when they transferred in January.
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FAU’s NIL agreements reportedly includes contract language that requires the student-athlete to pay back half of the remaining money they would’ve been owed, otherwise known as “liquidated damages,” in the event of a transfer-related breach of contract, per TapInto Boca Raton.
FAU joins a growing list of universities that are taking advantage of the “liquidated damages” clause in NIL contracts in order to help offset the loss of unearned money. Cincinnati is currently engaged in a legal battle to recoup $1 million from current Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who is also involved in a NCAA battle surrounding his admitted gambling addiction. Duke and Oregon are among the other Power Four programs have also taken legal recourse with their former players.
Sands, a running back, transferred to Florida State this January, while Paret, a defensive back signed with UConn. Stolsky, a linebacker, transferred to West Virginia, while Waseem, a receiver, transferred to Purdue.
According to the suit reviewed by TapInto Boca Raton, Waseem signed a 15-month, $69,000 NIL contract with FAU last September that paid him monthly installments of $3,000 for the first three months and then $5,000 for the subsequent 12 months. Stolsky’s NIL deal was amended to increase his licensing fee from $12,00 to $45,000 in September and would pay him $3,000 in monthly installments between Oct. 2025 through Dec. 2026.
Paret’s $30,000 NIL agreement signed last September called for him to receive monthly installments of $2,000 through then end of 2026. Sands reportedly agreed to an amended NIL deal on Dec. 31 that would have increased his licensing fee to $18,000 to be paid out in monthly installments of $1,500 beginning Jan. 22. He’d previously made $1,000 per month between July-Dec. 2025.
Cincinnati releases statement on lawsuit against former QB Brendan Sorsby
Cincinnati has released a statement regarding its decision to file a lawsuit against former quarterback Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby reportedly signed an 18-month NIL deal with the Bearcats in July 2025 with language indicating a transfer would constitute a breach of contract, per court records. Sorsby entered the transfer portal when the two-week window opened Jan. 2 and signed with Texas Tech just three days later on Jan. 5.
“Cincinnati athletics is proud to partner with its student-athletes and honors the contractual commitments it makes to them,” the statement read. “We expect student-athletes and their representatives to do the same. In his lucrative NIL agreement with Cincinnati athletics, Brendan Sorsby committed to stay and play for two seasons as a proud Bearcat representative. He also agreed that if he left the university before that time, he would pay the university a specific amount for the substantial harm that his breach would cause.
“Cincinnati athletics intends to enforce that contractual agreement. As stewards of the university’s resources, the athletics department has a duty to do so. We thank Brendan for his time at Cincinnati and wish him success in the future.”
— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.
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