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Columbia Daily Tribune
Missouri football's Damon Wilson files countersuit against UGA in novel NIL case
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Missouri football's Damon Wilson files countersuit against UGA in novel NIL case
Missouri football defensive end Damon Wilson has sued Georgia athletics, a move that counters a Georgia lawsuit filed against Wilson earlier this year and intensifies what was already a novel and likely first-of-its-kind case over an NIL contract dispute.
Matt Baker and Seth Emerson of The Athletic first reported Wilson's countersuit on Tuesday, Dec. 23. A 42-page document reviewed by the Columbia Daily Tribune was filed in Boone County on Tuesday.
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UGA is attempting to take Wilson into arbitration and is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages from the star edge rusher, who transferred to the Tigers in January 2025, over what the university views as an unfulfilled contract with the Bulldogs' former NIL collective, Classic City Collective.
In response, escalating what was already an attempt at a potentially precedent-setting case, Wilson's attorneys allege that his former team "falsely (told) at least three programs" unnamed Power Four teams that "Wilson would be subject to a $1.2 million buyout."
The suit also alleges that Georgia violated a confidentiality provision in Wilson's term sheet, which was provided as part of the UGA lawsuit in a public court filing.
Wilson's suit argues that he also was urged to sign the term sheet without legal counsel, and that Georgia did not "immediately submit his name to the transfer portal" but instead "launched an all-out offensive to convince Wilson to remain at Georgia."
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Also of note: The suit argues that the term sheet Wilson signed states that it would "be used to create a legally binding document" and therefore is not enforceable in its current format, and that he was urged to "seek legal counsel" before the agreement was finalized.
If the document is determined not to be finalized, it is quite likely that Wilson will not owe Georgia the $390,000 it seeks.
Per the Athletic, Wilson is seeking "a 'fair and reasonable amount of damages' for the 'financial and reputational harm he has suffered' along with legal fees" from Georgia.
"Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person," Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson's attorneys, said to the Columbia Daily Tribune. "Damon never had a contract with them. I don't see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts — maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice."
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Multiple Missouri representatives, including a team spokesperson and athletic director Laird Veatch, have declined to comment on Wilson's lawsuit. The Georgia lawsuit is not against the University of Missouri; it is only against Wilson.
"This matter involves pending litigation, and we have no comment at this time," Georgia spokesperson Steven Drummond told USA Today on Tuesday. "We refer you to our previous statement."
The previous Georgia statement in question: "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."
Missouri Tigers defensive end Damon Wilson II (8) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Georgia has argued that Wilson signed a contract — a common practice in the NIL era — with what was then UGA's main, but now-shuttered, NIL and marketing arm, Classic City Collective, in December 2024.
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That collective has since shut down, as UGA has partnered with Learfield to negotiate and facilitate NIL deals in the revenue-sharing era.
The report, citing documents attached to UGA's legal filings, shows that Wilson signed a 14-month term sheet worth $500,000 with the Bulldogs. He was set to earn monthly payments of $30,000 through the end of the contract, as well as two $40,000 bonus payments.
Before announcing his intention to transfer in January, he reportedly was paid $30,000.
The contract states that if Wilson left the team or transferred, as he ultimately did to Mizzou, he would owe the collective that issued the payments a lump sum equal to the amount remaining on his deal.
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The bonus payments seemingly were not included, which brings that total to the $390,000 that Georgia is now seeking in court.
Wilson was paid only a fraction of that sum, but the university argues that he owes the full amount in damages. It's unclear why Georgia is claiming it is owed the full amount in liquidated damages.
According to documents viewed by the Tribune through the Georgia courts records system, UGA filed an "application to compel arbitration" on Oct. 17 in the Clarke County Superior Court, which includes Athens and the University of Georgia. Wilson was served with a summons to appear in court, according to documents, on Nov. 19, three days before the Tigers faced Oklahoma.
Wilson spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at Georgia. He transferred to Mizzou ahead of spring camp in 2025 and has emerged as one of the top pass rushers in the SEC.
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Per Pro Football Focus, Wilson generated 49 pressures on opposing quarterbacks this season, which was the second-most in the SEC behind only Colin Simmons at Texas. He's listed at 6 foot 4, 250 pounds and could declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, where he would likely be a Day 1 or 2 pick.
More: What Missouri football fans need to know about new transfer portal dates
More: Six Missouri football players make Coaches' All-SEC team, 4 on first team
This case marks the first time a school has taken a player to court over an NIL buyout. It also looks likely to be the first time a player has filed suit against a school over NIL.
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Missouri currently has multiple players on two-year contracts. Part of that is in the hope that they do not move on after one season.
If Georgia's arbitration case against Wilson is successful, that would be a groundbreaking ruling in college athletics that could give more weight to liquidated damages clauses in athlete contracts.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football defensive end Damon Wilson files countersuit against UGA
