By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-01 16:38:18 | Updated at 2025-01-04 09:19:27
2 days ago
Louisville punter Brady Hodges raised eyebrows when he was conspicuously absent from the Sun Bowl Tuesday.
The Cardinals clung on to fend off a late comeback battle from the Washington Huskies and clinch a 35-34 win in the bowl game on New Year's Eve.
However, senior Hodges didn't suit up and take to the field for the thriller, which saw Louisville finish a 9-4 campaign.
Hodges later took to social media to reveal that his absence stemmed from yet another NIL controversy.
He explained that he hadn't been paid what he had been promised by the school's NIL collective, 502 Circle.
'I have not been with the team since December 10th,' Hodges wrote. '@502_Circle told me September 6th, they would be paying and are still yet to hold up their end of the deal. I graduated on December 13th and had every intention on being with the team had they held up their end of the deal.'
Brady Hodges raised eyebrows when he was conspicuously absent from the Sun Bowl
Louisville clung on to clinch a 35-34 victory over the Washington Huskies on Tuesday
Hodges took to X to reveal that his absence form the game stemmed from NIL controversy
It's currently unclear how much Hodges was owed by the collective but the saga could spell further trouble for Louisville.
Hodges' claim could send a signal to possible recruits and players in the transfer portal, warning them against signing with the Cardinals if the school can't hold up its end of NIL bargains.
Hodges, who is in his fourth year at Louisville and his second as the Cardinals' starter, averaged 39.4 yards per punt this past season.
He kicked 23 punts for 906 yards during the regular season, one year after reaching 1,197 punt yards as a junior in 2023.
He was replaced by Carter Schwartz, who handled all six punts in Tuesday's game. Schwartz earned Special Teams MVP honors for his performance.
502 Circle is projected to be the ninth-most funded NIL collective in college sports, with between 125 and 150 athletes under contract, including the entire men’s and women’s basketball teams, according to On3.
Hodges refusal to play is just the latest controversy surrounding NIL deals in college sports.
UNLV lost its starting quarterback midway through the season when Matthew Sluka announced his decision to preserve a redshirt when he and his representation said they were promised $100,000 in NIL dollars, but never received the funds.
Meanwhile, former Florida recruit Jaden Rashada sued the program and its boosters for allegedly defrauding him out of $13.85 million in an NIL deal gone sour.
Down in Tallahassee this week, multiple former Florida State men’s basketball players sued head coach Leonard Hamilton over $1.5 million in promised funds, which they claim they never received, sparking practice boycotts last season.
