Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers is among several players accused of betting on sporting events involving the Cyclones, including a 2021 football game.
The Des Moines Register was the first to report the criminal complaint in Story County, which says the junior signal caller from Hawarden, Iowa placed 26 wagers on Iowa State sporting events.
That includes a 2021 game against Oklahoma State. Dekkers did not play in that game, which the Cyclones won 24-21.
According to the newspaper, the complaint alleges the DraftKings account controlled by Dekkers completed approximately 366 mobile/online sports wagers totaling “over $2,799.”
Dekkers, who started all 12 games last season, figured to be the starter again in 2023.
Paniro Johnson, a sophomore wrestler at Iowa State, and Dodge Sauser, a sophomore offensive lineman on the football team, are also accused of wagering on Iowa State sports, according to the newspaper.
Iowa kicker Aaron Blom is also accused of making a bet on the 2021 Cy-Hawk football game and making eight bets on Iowa sporting events, according to a separate report The Gazette published on Wednesday.
Former Iowa State defensive lineman Enyi Uwazurike, a Detroit native, is also facing a complaint of tampering with records, and he is accused of placing wagers in two games he played in at Iowa State in 2021, according to the Register.
He was suspended for betting on NFL games in July.
But Dekkers is the highest profile player accused in the complaints when it comes to the 2023 football season. His attorney, Mark Weinhardt released a statement on Tuesday denying the allegations and indicating Dekkers will plead not guilty to a charge of tampering with records.
“This charge attempts to criminalize a daily fact of American life. Millions of people share online accounts of all kinds every day,” the statement said.
“This prosecution interferes with and politicizes what is the business of Iowa State University and the NCAA. The investigation at the Iowa universities is the tip of an iceberg. Thousands and thousands of college athletes place bets — usually very small ones — with shared accounts. That is for the schools and the NCAA to police.”
Dekkers will not participate in fall football camp so he “can focus on his studies and on the defense of this criminal charge,” Weinhardt’s statement said.
Dekkers, Johnson and Sauser could lose all of their remaining eligibility due to NCAA rules.
Iowa State struggled last season, going 4-8 and winning just one Big 12 game. It opens its 2023 season against Northern Iowa on Sept. 2.
READ MORE:
Broncos defensive end from Detroit suspended for betting on NFL games
NFL suspends four more players for gambling violations
Jameson Williams among 4 Detroit Lions suspended for sports betting; 2 to be cut