Sun. Nov 24th, 2024
8 More Iowa, Iowa State Football Players Charged in Statewide Gambling Investigation
AMES, IA - SEPTEMBER 24: Running back Jirehl Brock #21 of the Iowa State Cyclones rushes for yards in the second half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on September 24, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The Baylor Bears won 31-24 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)

David K Purdy/Getty Images

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.


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.


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.


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.

By Xplayer