The Florida football program, led by Billy Napier, is preparing for its third year under their newest bench boss. However, their journey to secure their first winning record since 2021 is overshadowed by a lawsuit filed by Jaden Rashada, now a quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs. The Florida Gators had attempted to recruit Rashada to the SEC before the 2023 season. Still, a disagreement over a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal resulted in the former top prospect signing with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Rashada has now filed a lawsuit against Florida football, specifically naming booster Hugh Hathcock and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker in the suit.
Rashada’s lawsuit alleges that the program fraudulently promised $13.8 million in NIL during the 2022-23 recruiting cycle, a claim that could have significant implications for the Florida football program. He also claims Napier promised $1 million as a signing day incentive. On Tuesday, Napier spoke to the media regarding the situation, claiming he is “comfortable with (his) actions” and “thankful for the university’s support.” A lawyer representing Marcus Castro-Walker also spoke up on Tuesday, backing his client against a “baseless lawsuit.”
Former Florida Football Staffer Marcus Castro-Walker: Receives Public Backing From Lawyer
Hal Lewis, a Florida football native and fan, will represent former team staffer Marcus Castro-Walker in a lawsuit filed by once highly recruited quarterback Jaden Rashada. On Tuesday, Lewis took to Twitter, also known as X, to publicly denounce Rashada’s suit and claim Castro-Walker’s innocence in the NIL-related case.
I am proud to be representing Marcus Castro-Walker in defense of the baseless lawsuit filed by Jaden Rashada. Marcus has no comment at this time, but he looks forward to clearing his name by having the true facts come to light soon.
Marcus worked countless hours at UF in his…
— Hal Lewis (@halleygator) May 28, 2024
“Marcus worked countless hours at UF in his position as Director of Player Engagement and NIL, and he was fully aware of all NCAA rules regarding recruiting. He willingly cooperated fully with the NCAA investigation, and no sanctions were ever imposed. Marcus was loved by all UF football players, many of whom credit him with their growth and development on and off the field. He deserves nothing but praise and thanks from UF and its fans for all of his hard work in making the UF program better.”
The Florida football program let Castro-Walker go earlier this year after two years with the team. Before his time with the SEC club, he worked at Nebraska as the director of player development. He also had a four-year stint with the Arizona State Sun Devils as the director of college personnel.
Jaden Rashada: Entering Second NCAA Season
After a highly-profiled recruiting process, quarterback Jaden Rashada landed with the Arizona State Sun Devils last season. He opened the season as the starter, going 18-of-31 for 236 yards and two touchdowns in a close win against Southern Utah in the opener. Rashada followed it up by going 16-of-29 for 167 yards and one touchdown effort in a loss against Oklahoma State. He missed the next two months with an injury and will not return until the season finale against Arizona. The former top prospect struggled, completing 45.5% of his passes for 62 yards and a touchdown against two picks.
Rashada has since transferred to the Georgia Bulldogs. However, he will play a backup role for at least one season. The Bulldogs house one of the best signal-callers in the nation, with Carson Beck under center. Beck threw for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and six picks in 2023.
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