Hunter Dekkers, the expected Iowa State starting quarterback, is facing allegations of breaking NCAA regulations by placing bets.
There is less than one month until the college football season gets underway, and Iowa State is already facing immediate scrutiny over who its starting quarterback might be entering Week 1 against Northern Iowa on Sept. 2 in Ames.
According to a report from the Des Moines Register, Hunter Dekkers, who was initially slated as the signal-caller for the Cyclones, is in hot water after the Story County Attorney's Office revealed it received word that Dekkers, who is entering his senior season, placed wagers on sporting events, including contests that involved his team.
Dekkers' gambling habits go back over two years to the fall of 2021, where it is alleged he had a Draft Kings account under an alias he'd use to pretend it wasn't him committing the act of illegal gambling. Through findings, Dekkers wagered "over $2,799," which included 366 placed bets, with 26 of them relating to Iowa State.
Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers allegedly bet on Cyclones sports, football included
Though it isn't public how much Dekkers actually won — it quite frankly doesn't matter — the most glaring discovery came during his sophomore season when Dekkers was accused of betting on a game between Iowa State and Oklahoma State. It is vital to note Dekkers, who was under the legal gambling age of 21, did not see the field, as the Cyclones edged the then-ranked No. 7 Cowboys, 24-21.
Due to the legality of the situation, including the potential consequence of losing his NCAA eligibility, Dekkers has temporarily removed himself from team activities, including fall camp and practices.
Head coach Matt Campbell commented briefly on the situation without mentioning Dekkers directly, saying the team is his first priority above all else.
Dekkers started every game for a Cyclones team that finished 4-8 in 2022, throwing for 3,044 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 66.1% of his passes.
Dekkers is one of three Iowa State student-athletes to get charged with tampering records and covering up illegal bets, making the story far from over.
The Cyclones' last bowl appearance came in Dec. 2021, losing to Clemsonm 20-13.