Matt Campbell addresses Iowa State gambling investigation, avoids update on quarterback Hunter Dekkers' status

Matt Campbell addressed the gambling situation that’s befallen the Iowa State Cyclones at Big 12 Media Days.

Earlier this offseason, as many as 15 Iowa State student-athletes from a number of different sports were found to be involved in allegations involving online sports gambling. The school’s athletics program found them to be in violation of NCAA rules and guidelines.

With so many questions persisting, Campbell was asked about the situation, to which he responded he’s simply removed himself from the process and is letting things work themselves out.

“Right now, for us, that investigation is ongoing,” Campbell said. “Just continues to not really have a lot of clarity to it. But I think we’re getting closer to getting clarity. The appreciation that I have, is they’ve kind of given me the opportunity to be removed from that process and just give me the results once the results come our way. I think what I would say for any of our young men that either are or are not involved in this, is it’s a great learning lesson.

“Part of what I love about teaching is you’re teaching 18-22-year old young men. There’s rules and regulations, and we’ll learn what happened in that situation here shortly but it’s a great teaching moment. And how to handle things when it doesn’t go well, and how do you respond from that? Once it’s time to kind of have clarity to that and respond to that the right way, I know our football team and certainly the young men in our team will do a great job of that.”

Additionally, Campbell did not clarify the status of quarterback Hunter Dekkers, who’s been involved in the probe, saying, “That investigation is ongoing and continues to not have a lot clarity to it.”

Last season, Dekkers passed for 3,044 yards and 19 touchdowns for Campbell’s squad, so if he was unable to participate in 2023, it would be a big loss for Iowa State.

Iowa State certainly isn’t alone in dealing with a sports-gambling issue, as we’ve seen it at both the collegiate and professional levels over the last couple of months. Indefinite suspensions and firings have resulted, but it remains to be seen what happens in Ames.

Time will tell, but it’s evident Matt Campbell and the Cycloes are committed to finding out the truth, and then they’ll move forward from there.