Georgia sues Mizzou defensive end for $390,000 to settle NIL dispute
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The University of Georgia (UGA) is taking Mizzou star pass rusher Damon Wilson to court for a Name, Image and Likeness dispute, after the University said he exited his contract with UGA's Classic City Collective early.
The Bulldogs are asking a judge to force Wilson to enter into arbitration to settle a clause in his former contract, which would serve as a buyout fee.
According to the lawsuit, which was obtained by ABC 17 through the Superior Court of Athens in Clarke, County, Ga., Wilson was served with a summons on Nov. 19. He is required to answer that summons within 30 days or the court will rule in favor of the plaintiff.
After the current Tiger defensive end had been with the Georgia for a year in 2023, he signed a 14-month agreement with the University's NIL collective in 2024. That contract stated that Wilson would earn $30,000 per month in his time in Athens, which would total up to a $500,000 deal by the time it was all said and done.
Wilson signed that deal in Dec. 2024 and it was set to end on Jan. 31, 2026. However, after playing both his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Bulldogs, he transferred to Mizzou in January of 2025, which is one year before the contract was supposed to end.
As a result, UGA is now looking for Wilson to pay what is essentially a buyout fee worth $390,000, which was the remaining value of his NIL deal with the collective.
Under the agreement with Classic City Collective, Wilson agreed to a 'Liquidated Damages clause,' which would require him to pay all remaining licence fees, should he exit the contract.
Georgia's lawsuit states that after Wilson officially withdrew from UGA on Jan. 13, 2025, the Collective sent the pass rusher a notice of the termination of their agreement on Jan. 14, 2025. According to the lawsuit, UGA said that Wilson did not respond to the termination notice or the demand for liquidated damages.
ABC 17 reached out to Mizzou Athletics for comment, but has not received a response.
Wilson was a key piece on the Tiger defense through the 2025 regular-season, tying for third-most sacks in the Southeastern Conference with nine on the year.
