On Tuesday, the NCAA, the governing body of Division I college football, dropped the hammer down on former ASU football frontman Herm Edwards and members of his old coaching staff regarding recruiting infractions involving more than 30 prospects during the Covid-19 impacted season. The NCAA concluded that Edwards and his coaching staff “participated in impermissible recruiting, meeting with prospects on campus and elsewhere,” including meeting with players in a nearby home designated for recruiting purposes.
ASU will vacate nine wins from their double-digit winning season of 2021 for the “use of ineligible players,” per ASU insider Chris Karpman. The five-year show clause becomes the longest in NCAA history for a head coach, tying that of Jim Tressel, formerly of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Despite his wrongdoings, ASU football paid Edwards $4.4 million in severance after the head coach stepped down from his role rather than getting fired. ASU knew the recruiting violations before Edwards stepped down. Current Las Vegas Raiders bench boss Antonio Pierce will also have a hearing regarding his role with recruiting violations. He coached with Edwards at ASU from 2018 to 2022.
Herm Edwards Receives Show-Cause Penalty: College Football Fans React
The College football world and its fans had quite the reaction to former ASU football head coach Herm Edwards getting hit with a five-year show-cause penalty. Under the punishment, any university that hires Edwards must take on all his recruiting restrictions. ASU also agreed to distance themselves from Regina Jackson, the mother of former Sun Devils quarterback Jayden Daniels. According to the allegations presented by Chris Karpman and 247Sports, Jackson routinely paid for flights and lodging for recruits while Daniels played for the Devils.
BREAKING: ASU reduced its scholarship allotment by 7 in 2022-23, must reduce by 1, from 85 to 84, in 2024. ASU will not be allowed to host recruits for 4 weeks between now and Aug. 1, and not have contact with recruits for 4 weeks between now and Aug. 1.https://t.co/0rLpZO4maO
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) April 23, 2024
Naturally, college football fans quickly took to social media with Jayden Daniels and Herm Edwards in the news regarding recruiting violations. After an unsuccessful run with the ASU Sun Devils, Edwards returned to his media role with ESPN. Meanwhile, Daniels left ASU after three seasons, transferring to the LSU Tigers, where he won the Heisman Trophy Award in 2023. He projects as a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
.@ASU needs to sue for the $4 million back.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 23, 2024
😳 What a Mess!! The timing of this coming out is not by coincidence. #NFLDraft This was elephant in the room for awhile in Tempe. Skeletons are coming out. Good reporting Chris.
— Gil Tyree (@gt6135) April 24, 2024
Why Crow and Anderson agreed to pay Edwards a single dime in his separation deal is a question both should have to answer … to the ABOR https://t.co/hrwbO0gArx
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) April 24, 2024
Dropping a hit piece like this and headline your tweet with this man name and his mother name this close to the NFL draft is NASTY WORK!!!
All because she paid for flights and housing for recruits during COVID-19???
That lady was a hero. I hope your team is never successful. https://t.co/3Qtx1bihrr
— TC. (@GoatLatia) April 24, 2024
This is like giving a reckless driving citation to an 85 year old driver. He’s not steeping foot back in that vehicle. Herm ain’t and wasn’t even thinking about coming back to college coaching. https://t.co/CQ6vdJMhqq
— Jeff Moritz (@6_ColumnGuy) April 24, 2024
The NCAA is so ridiculous. Jayden Daniels’ mom probably paid for flights and hotels of kids who couldn’t afford it.
And now she’s being headlined like she committed a crime. The real headline is Herm Edwards and his staff. https://t.co/2F6aPu82Gk pic.twitter.com/bcMDKbNmvt
— Josh Harris SZN (@matt_umd) April 24, 2024
A friendly reminder that Herm Edwards was paid 4.4 Million dollars and Ray Anderson is still employed by the University. Shameful.
— Bobby Robson (@CoachRobsonCHS) April 24, 2024
ASU also paid Herm Edwards a $4 million buyout when they fired him, despite his apparently being directly implicated in NCAA violations.
But of course at the time the AD was still Ray Anderson, Herm’s buddy and former agent.
An epic feat of corruption by all involved.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 24, 2024
Donate the $4.4M to @SunAngelNIL …. @HermEdwards do the honorable thing
— ZB 🦬 (@Kodak_Zac) April 24, 2024
ASU Football: Hammered with Sanctions
Outside Herm Edwards, several staffers also got hit with penalties for illegal recruiting during the 2020-21 season. Assistant coaches Prentice Gill, Derek Hagan, Chris Hawkins, Robert Rodriguez, and Zak Hill have all received a show-cause sentence of three to ten years. Hill will serve a three-year suspension. He currently works as an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks, but if he returns to the college level, he will be limited in recruiting. Gill is in the same boat, but like Hill, coaches at the NFL level with the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile, the NCAA will limit Hawkins’ recruiting for the next four years. He cannot recruit on or off campus during that span. However, Rodriguez and Hagan will both serve the longest show-clause sentences. Rodriguez will have recruiting restrictions for eight years, while Hagan will have his for ten. Additionally, Antonio Pierce, the current head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, is viewed as the brainchild behind the illegal recruiting operation at ASU during the COVID-19 season.
For More Football News:
For More Football News and to engage in further discussion, follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. I’m always open to your thoughts and insights. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!
