The Florida football program, led by Billy Napier, is preparing for its third year under their newest head coach. However, their quest to secure their first winning record since 2021 is clouded 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, but a dispute over a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal led the former top prospect to sign with the Arizona State Sun Devils instead. Rashada has now filed a lawsuit against Florida football, specifically naming booster Hugh Hathcock and former staffer Marcus Castro-Walker.
Rashada’s lawsuit alleges that the program fraudulently promised $13.8 million in NIL compensation during the 2022-23 recruiting cycle, a claim that could have significant repercussions for the Florida football program. He also claims that Napier promised $1 million as a signing day incentive. On Tuesday, Napier addressed the media about the situation, stating that he is “comfortable with [his] actions” and “thankful for the university’s support.” A lawyer representing Marcus Castro-Walker also spoke out on Tuesday, defending his client against what he called 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 Jaden Rashada, a once highly recruited quarterback. On Tuesday, Lewis took to Twitter, also known as X, to publicly denounce Rashada’s suit and assert 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
“As Director of Player Engagement and NIL at UF, Marcus put in a great deal of work, and he was well-versed in all NCAA recruiting regulations. He voluntarily gave the NCAA inquiry his whole cooperation, and he never faced any consequences. All of the UF football players adored Marcus, and many of them give him credit for their personal and professional improvement. For his tireless efforts to improve the UF program, he has earned nothing but gratitude and admiration from UF and its supporters.
Castro-Walker spent two years as a member of the Florida football team until being let go earlier this year. He was the director of player development at Nebraska before to joining the SEC team. He also worked as the director of college personnel for the Arizona State Sun Devils for four years.