Iowa receives eligibility determinations on 11 current student-athletes
With the 2023 college football season rapidly approaching, the Iowa Hawkeyes and head football coach Kirk Ferentz were hopeful that they would have some resolution on the gambling probe before its season began.
Now, it appears as though Iowa has received just that. The Iowa athletics department announced it has received determinations from the NCAA on 11 current student-athletes linked to the ongoing sports wagering probe.
The University of Iowa and the UI Athletics Department have been working cooperatively with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement (SAR) staff to determine the eligibility of student-athletes who were involved in sports wagering. The institution has received the SAR determinations for the 11 individuals who are current student-athletes. Because this information is protected through the Family Education Right and Privacy Act (FERPA), specific information will only be released once we have received the student’s consent.
NCAA guidelines set forth a process for an appeal of the SAR staff’s decision. The University will support student-athletes choosing to move forward with this process. – University of Iowa, UI Athletics Department Statement.
Without consent from each of these current Iowa student-athletes, the university can’t reveal what the NCAA has handed down in the way of punishment for each. Of course, as the statement notes, these Iowa student-athletes could choose to appeal these SAR determinations as well. That leaves fans and media to continue to speculate on their statuses in the meantime.
However, what it likely does mean for Iowa football is that the program can now proceed ahead with an idea of what the eligibility rulings and punishments may look like.
Per Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, these 11 are current Iowa football and wrestling student-athletes.
Iowa receives eligibility rulings from NCAA on 11 athletes (football & wrestling) involved in wagering investigation. Depending on violations, penalties could range anywhere from simply attending prevention education to permanent loss of college eligibility. Iowa will not release…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 22, 2023
To date, a pair of Iowa football players have been charged with tampering with records. That duo is junior kicker Aaron Blom and junior wide receiver Jack Johnson. A pair of former Iowa football players, wide receiver Arland Bruce IV and defensive back Reggie Bracy, have also been charged with tampering with records.
Bruce transferred to Oklahoma State, while Bracy transferred to Troy. Former Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen and former Iowa basketball player Ahron Ulis have also been charged with tampering with records.
“As I stand here right now, the one thing it doesn’t…it can’t be compromised, the integrity of the game, that’s first and foremost. That’s got to be protected, and that’s where everything should start.
“We will continue to cooperate. I think everybody involved has done a good job of that. That will be ongoing, and as we move forward, just hope that whoever is making decisions, they’re thoughtful. Hopefully they’re making appropriate decisions, and then being timely would be appreciated as well,” Ferentz said recently at Iowa’s media day.
Iowa State is also awaiting eligibility decisions on a number of student-athletes, including a group that also were charged with tampering with records. Starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers, running back Jirehl Brock, offensive tackle Jake Remsburg, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee and tight end DeShawn Hanika.
As a result of the gambling investigation, Brock voluntarily left the Cyclones’ team.
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