Georgia targets $390K in NIL damages from Damon Wilson II, arguing Missouri player breached buyout clause

The University of Georgia Athletic Association is taking legal action against one of the football team's former star pass rushers Georgia is asking for damages totaling after defensive end Damon Wilson II elected to transfer to Missouri after the season The department cited an NIL buyout clause in Wilson's contract and requested that a judge compel the defensive end to enter arbitration to reach a settlement The clause in Wilson s former agreement effectively acts as a buyout fee for terminating early Wilson was in the past few days served a court summons legal records show CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMAfter recording sacks during his freshman and sophomore seasons at UGA Wilson inked a new deal with Georgia's Classic City Collective In January just two weeks after landing the new contract Wilson made the switch to Missouri Wilson had nine sacks in his first regular season with the Tigers The formation of collectives has become more common at schools across the nation Countless collectives include liquidated damages clauses in their agreements with players to try to protect financial investments in athletes and discourage transfers Wilson reportedly received payouts totaling under the terms of his latest deal with Georgia before he left Athens Georgia The athletic association argues Wilson owed the sum within days of his departure CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ENCOUNTER PICKS PREVIEW WHAT TO EXPECT IN INDIANA-OSU MORE When the University of Georgia Athletic Association enters binding agreements with student-athletes we honor our commitments and expect student-athletes to do the same Georgia spokesperson Steven Drummond reported in a declaration to ESPN Wilson could not be reached directly for comment Missouri-based attorneys Bogdan Susan and Jeff Jensen are representing Wilson Susan argued that Wilson's career decisions were never motivated by money After all the facts come out people will be shocked at how the University of Georgia treated a apprentice athlete Susan reported in a message It has never been about the money for Damon he just wants to play the championship he loves and pursue his dream of playing in the NFL Georgia s move marks one of the first times a school has publicly sought NIL damages from a former athlete over a breach of contract The dispute sets the table for potentially setting a precedent on whether liquidated-damages clauses will act as an effective defensible replacement for more traditional buyout fees However it should be noted that Arkansas NIL collective did retain the services of an attorney to try to enforce a buyout clause in quarterback Madden Iamaleava's deal Iamaleava ultimately spent his freshman season with UCLA Wide receiver Dazmin James also left Arkansas prompting his former school to file a complaint Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter