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The athletes, including football players Arland Bruce IV, Reggie Bracy and Jack Johnson, as well as basketball player Ahron Ulis, initially faced charges related to tampering with records for allegedly falsifying information used to register accounts on mobile sports wagering apps.
The athletes’ alleged actions involved registering FanDuel or DraftKings sports wagering app accounts under the names of others, often family members, to conceal their identities as NCAA athletes and their underage status (under 21) for legal gambling.
These developments follow similar plea deals announced on September 6 for Iowa football player Aaron Blom, Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen, and Iowa State football players Dodge Sauser, Hunter Dekkers and Jake Remsburg.
Beyond the criminal charges, all athletes involved in sports wagering are subject to NCAA penalties, which range from suspensions of varying lengths to permanent ineligibility.
The athletes’ decisions have left a trail of consequences in their wake. Bruce, Bracy and Ulis transferred to other schools following last season. Oklahoma State suspended Bruce and Troy suspended Bracy after the gambling charges were filed. Ulis, who transferred to Nebraska, was listed on the Cornhuskers’ roster as of the latest update.
This story is a cautionary tale for athletes of all ages. Athletes who engage in sports wagering risk facing NCAA penalties, which can jeopardise their eligibility to compete.
