Ex-Nebraska football staffer caught up in Jaden Rashada NIL lawsuit

Former Nebraska football staffer Marcus Castro-Walker named in Jaden Rashada NIL lawsuit, accused of orchestrating fraud during his tenure at Florida.
Jaden Rashada NIL lawsuit involves a former Nebraska football staffer
Jaden Rashada NIL lawsuit involves a former Nebraska football staffer / Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY
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A former Nebraska football staff member -mostly known for his distinctive look of wearing sunglasses even during night games and standing close to former head coach Scott Frost during games - has been named a defendant in a high-profile NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) lawsuit filed by former Arizona State and now Georgia Bulldog quarterback Jaden Rashada.

Rashada originally signed with Florida after promises of payment for what his lawsuit claims was $13.85 million in NIL money. The lawsuit alleges that Gator booster Hugh Hathcock and UF head coach Billy Napier, along with former Nebraska football director of player development Marcus Castro-Walker orchestrated a fraud against Rashada. 

Castro-Walker was Florida’s director of NIL during the period of time that the Gators were recruiting Rashada. The quarterback alleges that each party "substantially and knowingly" assisted in carrying out the fraud.

Ex-Nebraska football staffer caught up in Jaden Rashada NIL lawsuit

Castro-Walker, who still lists his location as Gainesville, Florida, reportedly no longer works for Florida. He joined the Gators after serving one year as Nebraska’s director of player development. Frost hired him to replace Ron Brown in the role.

"Apparently Marcus’s role is to get on social media for standing behind me at games,” Frost said in October 2021. “He does a great job. I was always dehydrated during games before because I never thought to drink anything, and he’s always handing me a water bottle, which has been nice."

Castro-Walker was most often known as the "get back" coach. This is the person on the staff that is expect to keep track of the team staying on the sidelines. The team can draw penalties if the referees notice that coaches or players on the sidelines are wanding onto the field of play.

While that's the most interesting tidbit about the former Nebraska football staffer, the most interesting tidbit about the lawsuit is that Rashada reportedly asked Georgia coach Kirby Smart about suing their conference rival. Smart is said to have given the go-ahead.