Iowa State football looks very likely to be without its returning starting quarterback in 2023.
Hunter Dekkers, who helmed the Cyclone offense for all 12 games last season, has been charged with tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor, after authorities alleged he placed sports wagers, including on Iowa State football games, while using a proxy account to disguise his identity.
The junior quarterback will at minimum sit out the preseason fall camp practices, according to his attorneys, but the allegations put Dekkers in jeopardy of permanent NCAA ineligibility.
He is accused of betting on Iowa State sporting events as well as one Cyclone football game, according to the criminal complaint filed Tuesday. Student-athletes found to be wagering on their own team or on their own schools’ contests in different sports face a permanent loss of eligibility under NCAA rules.
More: NCAA rule changes align to public gambling sentiment – and aid Iowa, Iowa State athletes
Dekkers, through his attorneys, has denied the charge.
Given that Iowa State will almost certainly not play an athlete whose eligibility is in question – which would risk forfeitures and significant NCAA penalties – the Cyclones will likely have a new quarterback behind center this fall.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell has three scholarship players on the roster who will be candidates for the job.
More: Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers accused of betting on ISU sports, including football
Rocco Becht, redshirt freshman
It’s hard to peg a frontrunner for the job, given how little experience there was behind Dekkers, but Becht is probably the best candidate to fill that position.
He played in three games in relief of Dekkers last season, including 29 snaps in the season finale at TCU when Dekkers left with an injury. That leaves him as the lone player on the…
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