Jalen Carter named in lawsuit by father of Devin Willock originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The father of Devin Willock, the University of Georgia football player who died alongside team staff member Chandler LeCroy in a January car crash, filed a lawsuit against Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Carter, among others.
Dave Willock Sr. is reportedly seeking $40 million, according to the lawsuit filed in Gwinnett County, Ga., on Tuesday.
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On the morning of Jan. 15, the night after Georgia won its second-consecutive national championship, Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy died in a car accident in Athens, Ga. According to police, LeCroy was driving the car -- which reached up to 104 mph. Police also reported the 24-year-old had a blood alcohol concentration of .197, more than twice the legal limit in Georgia.
Offensive tackle Warren McClendon and team staff member Tory Bowles were injured in the crash but survived.
LeCroy was reportedly racing another car driven by Carter, who initially left the scene before emergency personnel arrived and claimed he was a mile away at the time of the deadly crash. The defensive lineman later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. He was sentenced to 12 months probation, fined $1,000 and required to complete 80 hours of community service, in addition to completing a state-approved driving course.
Carter, once in the conversation for the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was selected by the Eagles with the No. 9 pick.
Willock Sr. first notified the University of his intentions to seek $2 million in damages last month. He alleges the athletic department acted "negligently" by allowing LeCroy to drive after a night of documented parting and a history of speeding tickets.
"The attorneys who filed the complaint have refused to provide any factual basis for their claims against the athletic association, and we believe the evidence will prove them to be without merit," the University of Georgia Athletic Association said in a statement. "We intend to strongly dispute these baseless allegations in Court."
Willock Sr. is specifically seeking $30 million from the defendant, which includes the University's athletic association, in compensatory damages as well as an additional $10 million in punitive damages from Carter.
