Iowa Hawkeyes Football

The University of Iowa announced on Tuesday that the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement staff issued eligibility rulings on 11 athletes who were "involved in sports wagering" (h/t Adam Rittenberg of ESPN).

The school added that it would not publicly disclose those determinations until it had an athlete's consent to do so, as the information was protected under the Family Education Right and Privacy Act, and it would support any athletes who appeal the ruling.

Iowa wide receiver Jack Johnson and former Iowa football players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy (both have since transferred) were among those who have been charged in the state's investigation into the gambling of college athletes, per Rittenberg.

Additionally, former Hawkeyes basketball player Ahron Ulis, Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen and Hawkeyes kicker Aaron Blom have been charged in the widespread investigation, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

A number of Iowa State athletes have also been implicated in the gambling investigation, including quarterback Hunter Dekkers, running back Jirehl Brock and defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, who have each since stepped away from the team or left the program altogether.

As sports gambling becomes more accessible on digital devices, legal in more states and has been embraced in partnerships with pro sporting leagues, it has also become an increasingly major issue in the sporting world, as a number of athletes have been caught and reprimanded for betting.

The NFL has handed out multiple suspensions the past two years for players who broke the league's gambling policy, while Calvin Ridley was suspended for all of last season after wagering on his own team while he was sidelined.

The NCAA recently updated its own reinstatement rules for gambling infractions that occur after May 2, including a permanent ban for players who bet on their own games, influence the final result of those games, bet on other sports at their own school or provide insider information to bettors.

However, more lenient punishments were agreed upon for players betting on sports at schools they don't attend, depending on the amounts wagered.

Multiple current and former members of the Iowa and Iowa State football programs have been charged as part of a statewide gambling investigation. Some were accused of having bet on their respective teams' games, which Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz highlighted Friday while speaking with reporters.

"I think the key point there is betting on our games, and that is, to me, it's a deal-breaker if that is, in fact, proven to be true," Ferentz said, per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

"So, we'll deal with that when we get there. But, I think as we move forward, I think, at least in my opinion, it's been a learning process."

Per Ryan Hansen of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa wide receiver Jack Johnson, graduate assistant Owen O'Brien and former Hawkeyes Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy have been charged with tampering with records.

"The tampering with records charge is an aggravated misdemeanor and could carry a maximum sentence of up to one year in county jail or up to two years in prison if convicted," Hansen wrote. "The criminal complaints accuse Bracy, Bruce, Johnson and O'Brien of falsifying electronic sports wagering records to conceal their personal identities."

Iowa announced in May that 26 athletes across five different sports were being investigated for sports betting, which is a violation of NCAA rules.

The university further added that it received information on 111 individuals and stated the "vast majority" were "student-staff, former student-athletes, or those with no connection to UI Athletics."

Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon revealed in July that he is also involved in the NCAA investigation into the matter. However, Ferentz downplayed the impact that the investigation will have on the team heading into the 2023 season.

"It's really not that big of a deal right now, quite frankly. I'm not trying to be coy, but it just isn't," Ferentz said, per VanHaaren.

"Noah is injured, he would be the most prominent player, to my knowledge, that's involved in this. Let's say he was 100 percent healthy, which he's not, if we got closer to games, that's something we'd have to weigh and measure.

"Because if you don't know if a player is going to be there, you have to get other players ready to go. Because we're going to play regardless, we're going to play. So right now, we'll wait and see, that's just the way it is. So, it hasn't really been a big deal that way."

Iowa is coming off an 8-5 season in which the Hawkeyes allowed the second-fewest points per game but finished among the bottom 10 in scoring in Division I FBS. The Hawkeyes will open their season on Sept. 2 against Utah State at home.

Eight more current or former members of the Iowa and Iowa State football programs have been charged in a statewide gambling investigation.

Iowa State running back Jirehl Brock, defensive tackle Isaiah Lee, tight end DeShawn Hanika and offensive lineman Jacob Remsburg have been charged with tampering with records as part of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation's gambling probe, according to Travis Hines of the Des Moines Register.

Iowa wide receiver Jack Johnson, graduate assistant Owen O'Brien and former Hawkeyes Arland Bruce and Reggie Bracy are also being charged with tampering with records, according to the Des Moines Register.

Here's a breakdown of the allegations by program and some background on the investigation.

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Iowa State Cyclones

Brock is accused of using an online betting account to place wagers on Iowa State football and basketball games. The account he used was not in his name, but he controlled it.

The Cyclones' leading rusher in 2022 allegedly placed bets on four Cyclones football games, two of which he played in against Kansas State and Iowa, and allegedly placed 13 bets on Iowa State basketball.

Lee is alleged to have made 26 bets on 12 Iowa State football games, including placing a wager against the Cyclones in a 2021 matchup against Texas that he played in.

Hanika is alleged to have placed 70 bets on Iowa State basketball among his 288 total wagers.

Remsburg is alleged to have made 273 wagers, including six on NCAA basketball and football games. However, none of those six bets are alleged to have involved Iowa State.

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Iowa Hawkeyes

Bruce, who played two seasons at Iowa before transferring to Oklahoma State, is accused of placing bets on 11 Hawkeyes games that he played in. He allegedly used a DraftKings account under the name of Vincent Bruce to place the bets when he was under the age of 21, the legal betting age in Iowa.

Bracy, who also played two seasons at Iowa before transferring to Troy, allegedly placed bets on two games he participated in using the Vincent Bruce account while he was under 21 years old.

Bruce allegedly made 132 bets totaling $4,342, and Bracy allegedly made 66 wagers totaling $715.

Johnson, who appeared in five games for Iowa last season, allegedly made four wagers on Hawkeyes football games, though he didn't play in any of those matchups. He allegedly "engaged in a scheme" with his mother to disguise his identity so he could place bets before he turned 21.

Jackson allegedly placed 380 wagers worth more than $1,800 before turning 21.

O'Brien is accused to have placed three bets on Iowa football games during the 2022 season when he was on the Hawkeyes staff. He allegedly placed 350 bets totaling $3,047 before turning 21.

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Iowa Gambling Investigation

Iowa and Iowa State both announced in May that members across several athletic programs were involved in a sports gambling investigation.

Iowa said in a statement at the time that 26 student-athletes were involved in a sports gambling investigation, and Iowa State announced around the same time that approximately 15 student-athletes across football, wrestling and track & field were also involved in the investigation.

Among the other athletes to be included in the probe are:

• Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers
• Iowa State wrestler Paniro Johnson
• Iowa State offensive lineman Dodge Sauser
• Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Aaron Blom
• Former Hawkeyes basketball player Ahron Ulis

• Former Iowa State defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike, now of the NFL's Denver Broncos
• Former Iowa Hawkeyes baseball player Gehrig Christensen

Regardless of whether they are over 21, NCAA student-athletes are prohibited from gambling and could face permanent loss of eligibility if they place wagers on their own school, according to NCAA guidelines.

Iowa backup kicker Aaron Blom allegedly bet on multiple Hawkeyes sporting events, including the 2021 football game against rival Iowa State.

Scott Dochterman of The Athletic reported the Johnson County Attorney's Office charged Blom with an aggravated misdemeanor charge of tampering with evidence because he allegedly placed 170 bets totaling $4,400 on a DraftKings account registered to his mother prior to turning 21 years old.

Blom did not play in the 2021 game against the Cyclones in question, but he bet the under on a total point line of 45.5.

There were 44 total points scored in the game.

From Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation. It appears the criminal phase largely is over, although additional charges can be filed. pic.twitter.com/MaVAb85KPB

— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) August 2, 2023

The kicker wasn't the only one charged in the gambling probe, as Dochterman reported former Iowa basketball player Ahron Ulis was charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly using a pseudonym to gamble on FanDuel before turning 21 years old. Ulis, who transferred to Nebraska, is accused of having gambled on 430 NCAA-related events, including an Iowa football game.

Walk-on Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen, who is no longer with the program, was also charged with tampering with records for allegedly gambling 559 times on a DraftKings account created with his mother's information before he was 21 years old.

He allegedly placed wagers on 23 Iowa sporting events.

This comes after Travis Hines and Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register reported Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was charged with tampering with records for allegedly gambling on 26 Cyclones sporting events, including a 2021 football game in which he did not play.

Dekkers was Iowa State's starter last season and could face permanent ineligibility from the NCAA since he gambled on events featuring his own school.

Iowa and Iowa State have both been under the spotlight since May regarding gambling.

Iowa State released a statement saying it notified the NCAA of allegations against approximately 15 student-athletes from football, wrestling and track & field:

Statement from Iowa State on gambling allegations with student-athletes. pic.twitter.com/f8rSXCiLtD

— Chris Williams (@ChrisMWilliams) May 8, 2023

Iowa also announced 26 student-athletes were part of a gambling investigation and that the school was "fully cooperating."

As for Blom, he attempted three field goals last season and made just one. Notably, he missed a 48-yard field goal at the end of the Hawkeyes' loss to Iowa State that would have sent the game into overtime.

He was expected to be the Hawkeyes' backup kicker and punter in 2023.

Former Iowa offensive lineman Cody Ince died over the weekend at the age of 23.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz issued a statement Tuesday after learning about Ince's death:

"I am incredibly sad to hear about Cody Ince's sudden passing. Cody was a tremendous young man, valued teammate and contributor to our program. He loved football, fishing and hunting, and believed in the importance of family and friendships. Cody was just beginning this next chapter of his life and was about to be married. Mary and I are heartbroken for his fiancée, his family and all his friends who knew and loved him. All of us in the football program—his coaches and teammates—are mourning his loss."

Ince was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2020. He graduated in 2022 but didn't play for the football team despite having a fifth year of eligibility.

Per John Steppe of The Gazette, the initial obituary and news release from the school didn't identify a cause of death.

Ince was a 247Sports 3-star prospect coming out of Unity High School in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. He committed to play football at Iowa in June 2017 as a member of the 2018 class.

After redshirting as a freshman, Ince appeared in 11 games during the 2019 season. He played in 18 total games in 2020 and 2021, making 10 starts at left guard during that span.

Amid an investigation into possible gambling violations by student-athletes at Iowa and Iowa State, there's been no evidence of game-fixing at either school, according to the head of the state gaming commission.

Brian Ohorilko, the director of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, told Avery Yang and Darren Rovell of the Action Network it won't be necessary to ban or halt any betting markets on Iowa or Iowa State athletics based on recent findings.

"We review the types of wagers that come in and how suspicious they are," he said. "We have no reason to believe that there's anything like that here. ... There wasn't anything giving us pause or leading us to believe that any of these markets were compromised."

On Monday, both Iowa and Iowa State notified the NCAA of gambling allegations against a total of 41 student-athletes across the two schools.

Iowa's investigation:
26 current student-athletes from baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and wrestling and one full-time employee of the UI athletics.
Does not include any current or former coaches. https://t.co/pQX59PFRre

— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) May 8, 2023

Participating in online sports betting is a violation of NCAA rules, and the Hawkeyes and Cyclones aren't the only teams to be dealing with potential infractions.

Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon was fired last week for his alleged involvement in suspicious wagering activity regarding his team last month. Bohannon reportedly was on the phone with a former high school coach when Alabama's top pitcher Luke Holman was scratched from his start against LSU, and the former coach proceeded to place "substantial wagers" on the Tigers at a BetMGM Sportsbook in Cincinnati.

The Crimson Tide went on to lose the game 8-6, and Yang and Rovell noted that "an independent organization filed a report to state gaming commissions across the country indicating potential malfeasance."

Four states and 12 sportsbooks have reportedly halted all betting on Alabama baseball amid multiple ongoing investigations into the suspicious activity.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 193

HAND: 9 1/2"

ARM: 30"

WINGSPAN:

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40-YARD DASH: 4.45

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 39"

BROAD: 10'7"

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POSITIVES

— Very good size and play strength for position.

— Technical player who put himself in good positions on the field.

— Very good in run support. Triggers quickly to what he sees. Secure tackler who shoots through and wraps up legs of ball-carriers.

—Does a very good job of shooting gaps and avoiding blocks when he can, as well as controlling receivers for block destruction.

— Shows good ball skills and the ability to catch with his hands away from his body. Plays the ball well downfield when in phase.

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NEGATIVES

— Slightly above-average body control and movement skills at times. Shows hip tightness when opening or swiveling.

— Lacks ideal twitch and top-end speed. Can be slightly heavy-footed at times. Can struggle with stopping and starting.

— Plays "below the rim" when defending passes. Plays through the hands of the receivers but doesn't high point.

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2022 STATISTICS

13 games, 47 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FF, 11 PBU, 1 INT

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NOTES

40 games started

2nd in career interception return yards (239) at Iowa

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OVERALL

Riley Moss is a physical player with five years of experience. With 40 starts in his career, he has steadily developed his game at the cornerback position. He has good size and length. There isn't one particular area in which he excels, as he is proficient in all areas of his game. When in coverage, he has shown the versatility to play both man and zone, although he seems to thrive more in zone coverage with his eyes on the quarterback.

There are times when Moss plays with high pad level, hindering his breaking and allowing receivers to create separation out of breaks. When in coverage, he has shown some hip tightness and lacks the top-end speed to carry receivers downfield. This also forces him to reach and hold receivers when not in the correct position. When playing the ball and the receiver, Moss often chooses not to locate the ball but play through the receiver. Though this works well for him at times, he is also left lost and unable to recover in space, especially when he is defending bigger receivers who have larger catch radiuses and are able to high point the ball.

When playing the running game, Moss is able to excel by using his strength and physical toughness. He does a very good job of using his hands to control and shed blockers. He often displays his football IQ by setting up blockers and shooting gaps to make plays. When tackling, he does a great job of taking out the legs of ball-carriers while also wrapping them up to secure the tackles. There have been instances in which his lack of lateral quickness has shown up, causing him to dive at ankles and miss some tackles. Ultimately, Moss is a strong tackler who has great vision and triggers quickly to what he sees.

Moss is the type of player who makes it hard to not like him. Although he isn't the most physically gifted player in this class, his high IQ makes up for a lot and puts him in the right place. His experience and high production over his career has shown consistency. He will have to compete for a starting role at the next level but would add quality depth to any room.

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GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player) Round 4

OVERALL RANK: 109

POSITION RANK: CB15

PRO COMPARISON: Michael Ojemudia

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

The University of Iowa and the state Board of Regents reached a $4.175 million settlement Monday to the 12 Black former Hawkeyes football players who sued the school for racial discrimination, according to Scott Dochterman of The Athletic.

As a part of the settlement, former football strength coach Chris Doyle and current head coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and athletic director Gary Barta were dismissed as defendants. Linebackers coach Seth Wallace had previously been dismissed as a defendant.

The settlement was later approved by the Iowa State Appeal Board:

State Appeals Board approves the $2 million settlement portion by Iowa taxpayers by 2-1 vote. https://t.co/3LcDAIPl1a

— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 6, 2023

The lawsuit stemmed from the former players calling out Iowa's coaching staff in 2020 for giving preferential treatment to white members of the football team. A commissioned report from a law firm, Kansas City's Husch Blackwell, backed up the assessment of those players and identified a number of instances of racial discrimination and an overall hostile culture toward Black players.

"The program's rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity," the report read. "The program over-monitored players to the point that they experienced heightened anxiety and maintained a culture that allowed a small group of coaches to demean players."

Per Dochterman, the University of Iowa will pay $2.175 million of the settlement, while the Board of Regents will pay the remaining $2 million.

Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, who is one of the three members of the State Appeal Board, called for Barta's resignation or firing in a statement and said he would "not support taxpayers funding this settlement" unless the athletic director was "no longer employed at the university and forfeits any severance or similar pay."

He added:

"Under Barta's leadership at the University of Iowa Athletics Department, we've had the Peter Gray scandal plus three instances of discrimination totaling nearly $7 million in damages (setting aside other suits). After (a $6.6 million settlement to former associate athletics director Jane Meyer and field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum on gender and sexual discrimination claims), Barta asserted no wrong was done. Now we have a new matter for $4 million more, and for the first time, they want part paid from the taxpayers' general fund, even though they now collect tens of millions annually (through) the Big Ten TV deal."

Many of the complaints had surrounded Doyle, who agreed to a separation with Iowa in 2022 and was given a $1.1 million settlement. The 12 former Black players sued Iowa (both the school and the state), the Board of Regents, Doyle, both Ferentzes and Barta.

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 245

HAND: 10 1/4"

ARM: 32 1/8"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.59

3-CONE: 6.91

SHUTTLE: 4.25

VERTICAL: 35"

BROAD: 10'3"

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POSITIVES

— Solid frame with room to add 5-10 pounds comfortably.

— Above-average flexibility and ease of movement. Smooth in and out of routes.

— Good play strength and balance as a route-runner. Undeterred by physicality during his routes.

— Tough, reliable YAC earner underneath. Can fight for little extra bits of yardage at the sticks.

— Above-average blocker. Has the movement skills to be an on-the-move blocker, as well as the strength to win at point of attack.

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NEGATIVES

— Average speed, at best. Doesn't separate from anyone across or down the field.

— Below-average explosive play ability. Lacks twitch and speed for chunk plays.

— Inconsistent comfort in traffic and ability to fight for the ball.

— Below-average ability to go up for the ball and win in the air.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 12 GM, 58 REC, 657 YDS (11.3 AVG), 1 TD

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NOTES

— D.O.B: January 12, 2001

— 3-star recruit in 2019

— Started 32 games in four seasons, at least two each year

— 2021 third-team All-Big Ten, 2022 first-team All-Big Ten

— Torn meniscus late in 2022, missed final regular-season game vs. Nebraska

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OVERALL

Sam LaPorta can be a high-end No. 2 tight end out of the gate with the potential to grow into something more.

Many of LaPorta's floor-setting traits will play right away. As a pass-catcher, LaPorta is a tough cover from about 10 yards out and closer. LaPorta moves with great fluidity and quick feet for a 250-pounder, showing effortless work in an out of his route breaks. Though not the twitchiest guy around, he has just enough juice to make good on how easy it is for him to sink his hips and get out of his breaks cleanly. Additionally, LaPorta can't really be bullied off his routes. He holds up well both at the line of scrimmage and when jammed at the top of his route breaks.

LaPorta will also be a plus blocker soon. He isn't the biggest or strongest guy in the class, but he's a sharp, flexible blocker with plenty of strength to handle any assignment. LaPorta excels both as a move blocker, like on pulling plays or as the splitter on split zone, as well as a blocker at the point of attack, such as on power or zone runs his way. LaPorta also can be flexed from the in-line Y spot to the wing/H position with ease, giving his future offense a bit of versatility in terms of formation.

Where LaPorta gets dinged is his ability to make high-value plays. He's not a bad athlete by any stretch, but he doesn't have the high-end speed or explosiveness to be a truly dangerous player. LaPorta's speed is average at best, which applies both to his route running and YAC skills. He likely won't be a major seam or deep crosser threat in the league. Likewise, LaPorta isn't particularly dangerous with the ball. He can fight through contact at times, but he isn't going to race second-level defenders to the edge or make many people miss. Additionally, LaPorta doesn't make many difficult catches in traffic or in the air, which is a little concerning for someone who also doesn't stretch the field.

The good news for LaPorta is that his blocking prowess and smooth movement skills should get him playing time early, even if just as a No. 2. That should give him the reps to speed up his development and perhaps tap into some nuance that will further enable him as a route-runner and pass-catcher. That said, LaPorta just doesn't have a tantalizing ceiling as a prospect, and it's difficult to see him cracking into the top two tiers of tight end play in the NFL.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter)

OVERALL RANK: 61

POSITION RANK: TE6

PRO COMPARISON: Daniel Bellinger

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 272

HAND: 11"

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.58

3-CONE: 7.02

SHUTTLE: 4.32

VERTICAL: 31"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

– Great size and length for an NFL defensive end.

– Good get-off, quick to react to the snap and accelerates off the line of scrimmage well.

– As a run defender, he's physical at the point of attack and has pop in his hands to get extension against offensive linemen.

– Takes on blocks with good pad level and has the strength to stand up tackles to get a leverage advantage.

– Creates stalemates and is hard to move one-on-one, solid at holding against double teams, too.

– When bull rushing, he has plenty of strength and keeps his feet moving through contact to put offensive tackles on skates. He can collapse the pocket against good tackles and weaker guards.

– Has a solid push-pull move, he's strong enough to fold tackles in half and just needs to get more limber to clear his hips and get clean wins.

– Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.

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NEGATIVES

– Limited experience and hasn't proven to be an every-down player who can handle a full game workload.

– Not a good athlete or very limber, which limits his pass rush arsenal to power moves. He rarely even tried to win with finesse at Iowa.

– As a pass-rusher and run-defender, he doesn't work the offensive lineman's hands to get them off of him and allows blockers to hang onto him.

– Below-average bend to turn tight corners at the top of the rush.

– Lack of athleticism and change-of-direction skills shows up against athletic quarterbacks, as he'll lose outside contain, especially against bootlegs.

– Needs to be more violent when shedding blocks or add a rip move when escaping to disengage against the run. He'll occasionally lose gap control because of this.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 13 G, 38 TOT, 11 TFL, 6.5 SK

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NOTES

– DOB: July 6, 2001

– A 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, No. 1,063 overall, 52 SDE, per 247Sports composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 0 career starts

– Career stats (two seasons): 70 total tackles (34 solo), 19 TFL, 13 sacks, 1 PD

– 2022 Honors: Academic All-Big 10, second-team All-Big Ten

– 2021 Honors: Academic All-Big 10, Freshman All-American (FWAA, Maxwell Football)

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OVERALL

Lukas Van Ness might be one of the most interesting draft projections in this year's class. As a redshirt sophomore who didn't log a single start in college, it was a bit of a surprise that he didn't opt to go back to school. But he's been getting first-round love because of his physical traits.

Van Ness already has an NFL-ready body and can be an absolute bear in the trenches. He's strong and physical at the point of attack, which gives offensive linemen a lot of trouble in pass protection and the ground game. Iowa also used him up and down the defensive line, so he can play multiple spots as well.

However, he's inferior athletically to a lot of other top edge-defenders in this year's draft class. That seemed to limit the Hawkeye's pass-rush arsenal to power moves and can cause him to lose contain against athletic quarterbacks. It will be important for him to put up some good numbers at the combine to show he can at least grow in that department.

Schematically, Van Ness would be best as a hand-in-the-ground defensive end in even fronts, but he has the size, strength and versatility to play as a 4i-technique in odd fronts, too. He can probably line up as a 3-tech occasionally as well.

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GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 starter)

OVERALL RANK: 21

POSITION RANK: EDGE4

PRO COMPARISON: Kyle Vanden Bosch

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder