Kirk Ferentz provides update on Noah Shannon's eligibility

Iowa could have major Noah Shannon news on the horizon thanks to some recent NCAA proposals that could take effect regarding sports gambling and the subsequent punishments for players caught betting against NCAA rules.

Coach Kirk Ferentz revealed Tuesday that the NCAA has cleared the influential defensive tackle practice.

“Some recent developments that I’ll share, Noah Shannon has been cleared to practice,” Ferentz said. “I don’t know what we’ll learn or when we’ll learn his status moving forward. But at least we have him on the field now. He’s back on the roster and able to be part of the team as a football player instead of a guy helping out a little bit. So that’s positive, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed as we move forward.”

Shannon was initially suspended for the 2023 season on Aug. 23, as a result of an investigation connecting Shannon to a string of betting that was against NCAA rules. Twenty-six athletes across multiple teams — football, men’s basketball, baseball, men’s track and field, and wrestling — were caught up in the probe.

The Iowa defensive tackle appealed the NCAA’s ruling but was denied on Sept. 12.

However, recent proposals to change the punishments for betting that is against NCAA rules have changed the equation, particularly because the NCAA has said any enforcement would be retroactive.

That could clear the way for Shannon to return to Iowa right as the team readies to make a push toward the Big Ten Championship Game.

But it’s unclear when exactly such a ruling might come down. The NCAA’s Committee on Athlete Reinstatement is considering a penalty reduction and could complete its review by mid-October, with a vote on the proposals by late October.

Even if Noah Shannon can return, though, what kind of shape he’d be in is a legitimate question at this point.

“I really don’t know. We’ve never been in this situation,” Ferentz said. “He missed a lot of time. He has a great attitude. He’s been around and was working through an injury probably couldn’t play physically until a couple of weeks ago. Hasn’t been in pads in quite a while now. So we’ll see. But I don’t know even when the decision is going to be made so at least we have ample time to get him ready, hopefully.”

Shannon has recorded 107 career tackles, 11.0 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two passes defended, across four seasons of action for the Hawkeyes.