CFB notebook: Florida's Mullen named in lawsuit

Dan Mullen left Mississippi State in November to become Florida's head coach, but a clothing company in Mississippi has involved him in a legal matter. Mullen and former Mississippi State athletic director Scott Stricklin are among the names added to a lawsuit by Oxford-based clothing store Rebels Rags, Sports Illustrated reported. The NCAA alleged that Rebels Rags provided free clothing to Mississippi State players Leo Lewis and Kobe Jones when the coaching staff of the rival Mississippi Rebels was recruiting them. While denying the allegation, the store owner's lawyers sued Jones, Lewis and Lindsey Miller, who is the estranged stepfather of former Rebels offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, for defamation, civil conspiracy and commercial disparagement in June. Now, a new complaint to be added to that suit alleges that Mullen and Stricklin, while at Mississippi State, provided false information and assisted in libel, slander and defamation against the store as a co-conspirator with the other defendants. Stricklin is now the athletic director at Florida, and his lawyer, Charles Winfield, denied the allegations. Last week, Ole Miss filed an appeal of the decision by the NCAA committee on infractions to ban the Rebels' football program from postseason play in 2018. --Alabama is still in the hunt for another quarterback who could play next season, and East Carolina graduate transfer Gardner Minshew might be the answer. Minshew has left East Carolina in search of another school where he could play his final college season, and al.com reported that he will visit the Alabama campus this weekend. The possible addition of Minshew, who would be eligible to play next season, would be a hedge against the possibility that sophomore Jalen Hurts might transfer. --Greg Dortch, Wake Forest's leading receiver last season despite missing five games, has been medically cleared to participate fully in spring practice. Dortch sustained a season-ending abdominal injury in an Oct. 28 victory over Louisville. Dortch set a school record with four touchdown catches in that game and totaled 10 receptions for 167 yards against the Cardinals. Despite missing the final month of the regular season as well as the postseason, Dortch led the Demon Deacons in receiving yards with 722. His 53 receptions and nine receiving touchdowns tied for the team lead. --Oregon will add Alex Mirabal, who was offensive line coach at Marshall the last five seasons, as a 10th assistant to fill out new Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal's staff, according to published reports. Mirabal will work with the Ducks' centers and guards, while graduate assistant Cody Woodiel will handle the offensive tackles. Cristobal, who was the Ducks' offensive line coach on Willie Taggart's staff, will retain that title.