Owner of exotic rental agency says relatives paid for cars of former Canes Quan Muhammad, Jermaine Grace

Juan Caballero, the owner for South Beach Exotic Rentals, released a statement to the Miami Herald Sunday night regarding the dismissal of former Hurricanes defensive standouts Jermaine Grace and Al-Quadin Muhammad.

Grace, the team's leading tackler last season, and Muhammad, the team leader in sacks, were kicked off the team Saturday after a six-month probe into Caballero's company amid allegations the players broke NCAA rules by receiving improper benefits from the rental car agency. 

When he spoke to The Herald several weeks ago Caballero said he was unfamiliar with Jermaine Grace and did not know who he was.

"South Beach Exotic Rentals has been asked over the past few months to provide information relating to University of Miami Football players receiving exotic cars in exchange for memorabilia," Caballero said. "When we first were notified about this, we thought there must have been a mix up.  Therefore, we decided to cooperate and provide information that was requested.  For example, the university noticed that Al-Quadin Muhammad was seen on Instagram in exotic cars after games.  We provided them with the information (flight schedules, credit card receipts, insurance coverage, full payment) that Muhammad's cousin, Jeff, was in fact the one renting the cars, as he has for many years. 

"We also provided information that Jermaine Grace's uncle rented a car for him at full price.  They continued to ask for information which was well documented and provided.  There has been many University of Miami students over the years who have come by to test drive our cars in hopes of purchasing or leasing them when they graduated. This is also common with University of Miami Law students and Medical Students, who wish to check out our inventory in hopes of renting or purchasing at a later time.   They would simply show up and speak with a sales rep about sitting in the cars or taking them for a test drive, as they would at any dealership. 

"[Senior Associate Athletics Director for Compliance] Craig Anderson is the compliance officer who continuously would call and even show up to our place of business asking about information to help him make his case, that these kids were doing something wrong.  If we had such information, it would have been provided.  However, there has never been a single incident where a player has received preferential treatment or anything of value for free."