Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon faces one-year suspension for sports wagering

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon is facing a one-year suspension following the NCAA’s investigation into sports wagering, head coach Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday morning.

The suspension effectively would end the sixth-year senior’s college football career. Ferentz said Iowa is appealing the suspension.

Shannon placed a wager on another Iowa Hawkeye sports team, Ferentz said.

“He bet for them, and I’m guessing he got caught up in the emotion,” said Ferentz, who received permission from Shannon to discuss the suspension.

The NCAA’s updated sports wagering guidelines suggest a player who wagers on their own school’s teams could face “permanent loss of eligibility.” While the one-year suspension is technically less severe than Shannon’s penalty, it functions the same way because of his waning eligibility.

Shannon cannot play in games while the appeal is ongoing. The suspension does not preclude Shannon from participating in team activities, though.

“He's given his heart and soul and some body parts to the program,” Ferentz said. “I just like to think he’d be allowed to finish out his career, and love to have him with us here through the end of it.”

Ferentz hopes Iowa’s appeal will result in “people rethinking things a little bit.”

“We live in a totally different world than we did two years ago, three years ago. And in Noah’s case, he has not committed a crime,” Ferentz said. “It's just time to really recognize the world these guys are living in and maybe be a little bit compassionate toward that.”

Shannon told reporters earlier this month he is not letting the gambling probe “define me in any way, shape or form.”

“Life goes on, so whenever the NCAA comes out with a ruling, I’ll be ready, if there is a suspension,” Shannon said on Aug. 11.

Ferentz cannot comment on the other athletes specifically involved in the investigation because of the university’s belief it would violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. But in general, he said, there are some athletes who are “going to have serious consequences” and some who “are looking at suspensions.”

Two current athletes — kicker Aaron Blom and wide receiver Jack Johnson — allegedly bet on their own team, according to court documents. Ferentz previously said a player betting on Iowa’s own games would be a “deal-breaker if that is, in fact, proven to be true.”

Another two athletes are facing partial-season suspensions.

“They’re both multi-games,” Ferentz said. “One is longer than the other. … I can’t really get into that until the players can release that.”

The athletics department released a statement Tuesday evening saying 11 current Iowa athletes across various sports face reinstatement “determinations” following the NCAA’s three-plus-month sports gambling probe.

Shannon, Blom and Johnson are the only three names that are public so far. Shannon voluntarily disclosed his involvement in the NCAA’s gambling probe. Blom and Johnson, meanwhile, are known because of their charges in law enforcement’s criminal investigation.

The NCAA’s investigation is a separate process from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s probe that has resulted in several tampering with records charges.

Shannon, while involved in the NCAA investigation, has not been charged in the criminal investigation. The eight undisclosed athletes also facing NCAA penalties also have not been charged in the criminal probe.

What this means for Iowa football on the field

Shannon’s absence — whether it is a full season, as prescribed by the NCAA, or shortened upon appeal — means the Hawkeyes will be without one of their most experienced players.

Shannon has started the last two seasons at defensive tackle and was an all-Big Ten honorable mention in both years.

Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, though, the defensive line is especially deep in 2023.

Options to fill the void at Shannon’s spot at defensive tackle next to Logan Lee include Yahya Black and Aaron Graves.

Black’s Iowa career has been plagued with injuries, but he is now healthy and could bring a lot of upside at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds. Graves, a former MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year, was one of eight true freshmen last year to see game action.

Blom, a walk-on, was supposed to back up Lou Groza Award semifinalist Drew Stevens this year. Iowa already found a replacement via the transfer portal with ex-Central Michigan kicker Marshall Meeder.

Johnson, also a walk-on, already would have likely been far down the depth chart after Iowa added former Ohio State wide receiver Kaleb Brown and former Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson from the transfer portal in the offseason.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com