TORONTO (AP) — Quarterback Brendan Sorsby, permanently ruled ineligible by the NCAA for sports betting, won’t be kick-starting his pro football career in Canada.
The CFL said Friday it won’t allow the 22-year-old to sign with any of its teams or be placed on their negotiation lists.
Sorsby admitted to placing thousands of bets totaling nearly $90,000 over his collegiate career, including at least 40 on Indiana football while he was a freshman there
in 2022, although none was on games in which he played for the Hoosiers that year.
After being ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA, Sorsby attempted to join the NFL’s supplemental draft, but the league told him on Tuesday it wouldn’t hold one this year.
Instead, the NFL told Sorsby to focus on preparing for possible entry into the league via its regular draft in 2027, according to a letter from the league telling Sorsby of its decision that was obtained by The Associated Press.
The NFL hasn’t held a supplemental draft since 2023.
“Upholding the integrity of the league and ensuring fair competition are paramount to the CFL,” the CFL said in a statement. “The allegations involving Brendan Sorsby are serious and concerning.
“At this time, the CFL will not register a contract for him, and no team will be permitted to add him to its negotiation list.”
Sorsby had planned to work out for NFL teams on July 10. He was banished from competition by the NCAA for the gambling activity after transferring earlier this year from Cincinnati to Texas Tech.
After spending a month in a residential treatment program for a diagnosed addiction that led to thousands of bets, Sorsby sued the NCAA and gained a court-ordered reinstatement that prompted nationwide backlash toward Texas Tech. The controversy led Sorsby to try to play professional football instead.
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