Missouri edge rusher Damon Wilson II has taken his ongoing NIL battle with Georgia to the next level, filing a lawsuit in response to legal action brought against him earlier this month.
According to The Athletic, Wilson’s lawsuit accuses Georgia and its NIL collective of engaging in a civil conspiracy aimed at punishing him for transferring out of the program. The filing alleges that Georgia warned potential landing spots that any school signing Wilson would be on the hook for $1.2 million if he left the Bulldogs, a move Wilson claims was designed to scare off interested programs.
New lawsuit adds fuel to an already chaotic NIL dispute
Georgia’s original lawsuit centered on an alleged unpaid buyout clause in Wilson’s NIL agreement, seeking roughly $390,000 after he transferred to Missouri ahead of the 2025 season. Wilson’s countersuit now argues that Georgia’s actions were intended to block other schools from negotiating with him, effectively limiting his ability to secure a new NIL deal and continue his career elsewhere.
The case highlights the growing uncertainty surrounding NIL enforcement, often described as the sport’s “wild west.” As one of the first high-profile contract disputes of its kind, it could set a precedent for future NIL conflicts across college athletics.
Wilson is coming off the best season of his career, recording nine sacks, and is viewed as a potential NFL Draft candidate. His legal team previously hinted that a response to Georgia’s lawsuit was coming, and now that response has arrived.
“Once all the facts are revealed, people will be stunned by how the University of Georgia treated a student-athlete,” Wilson’s attorney, Bogdan Susan, said earlier this month. “This has never been about money for Damon. He simply wants to play football and chase his dream of reaching the NFL.”
As the legal back-and-forth continues, Wilson’s case underscores just how murky and contentious the NIL landscape has become.
