Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers is facing criminal charges in an ongoing investigation into sports gambling involving college athletes — and has been accused of placing bets on the school’s athletics program.
The Story County Attorney’s Office has charged Dekkers with tampering with records related to the probe by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, according to multiple reports.
The signal-caller is alleged to have placed 26 bets on Iowa State sporting events, including a 2021 game against Oklahoma State.
Dekkers, 22, was a backup and did not play the game he has been alleged of betting on.
“We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time,” Iowa State senior associate athletic director Nick Joos said in a statement.
An account on DraftKings linked to Dekkers is said to have made roughly 366 mobile/online sports wagers worth more than $2,799, The Des Moines Register reported, citing the criminal complaint.
The news could complicate Iowa State’s football season as Dekkers — a redshirt junior — is expected to be the team’s starting quarterback.
He started all 12 games last year but could face a loss of eligibility due to the NCAA’s rules that prohibit athletes from betting on their own games or on other teams at their school.
But Dekkers isn’t the only Iowa State athlete embroiled in the controversy.
Authorities have charged two other student-athletes at the school and one former player with tampering with records.
Sophomore wrestler Paniro Johnson, sophomore offensive lineman Dodge Sauser and former defensive lineman Enyi Uwazurike have all been wrapped up in the investigation and have been charged with tampering with records, The Register reported.
The tampering with records charge — and aggravated misdemeanor — could come with as many as two years in prison.
All four have been accused of trying to hide their identities in order to “deceive or conceal a wrongdoing,” according to The Register.
Dekkers is coming off a season in which he threw for 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as Iowa State finished with a 4-8 record.
The Athletic reported that Dekkers will not participate in fall camp and an attorney representing him said the quarterback will plead not guilty.
“This charge attempts to criminalize a daily fact of American life,” Mark E. Weinhardt of The Weinhardt Law Firm said in a statement, per The Athletic. “Millions of people share online accounts of all kinds every day.
“This prosecution interferes with and politicizes what is the business of Iowa State University and the NCAA.”
