Former Virginia WR files hazing complaint in lawsuit against university

 

According to multiple reports, University of Virginia president Teresa Sullivan, athletic director Craig Littlepage, two football staffers and two players are defendants in a hazing complaint filed against the school.

Former UVA receiver Aidan Howard, who enrolled at the university this summer, alleges that a hazing ritual left him injured. He underwent surgery on Sept. 29 for a broken orbital bone, and, per the Richmond Times-Dispatch, has since left the program and enrolled at Robert Morris.

The staffers named in the lawsuit are wide receivers coach Marques Hagans and graduate assistant Famika Anae. Junior receiver Doni Dowling and sophomore wideout David Eldridge are also defendants.

The complaint states that Howard was the target of “bullying and harassing conduct” from Dowling and Eldridge “without any reprimand from Hagans.”

Howard is seeking $75,000.

A native of Monroeville, Pa., Howard was a member of Virginia’s 2016 recruiting class. A consensus 3-star prospect coming out of Gateway High School, he was a 2015 Pennsylvania Football News Class 3A all-state honoree. Howard originally committed to Virginia during Mike London’s tenure, giving his verbal pledge in June of 2015. He signed with the Cavaliers this past February, two months after current head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s hiring.