A Step Towards Strengthening Compliance at FSU
Florida State University (FSU) has reached closure on a recruiting violation case, as confirmed by athletic director Michael Alford. Alford stated that this development is another crucial step in reinforcing FSU’s culture of compliance. The university takes all compliance matters seriously and has fully cooperated with the NCAA throughout the investigation.
NCAA’s Findings and Sanctions
The violation took place during an official visit to FSU in 2022, according to the NCAA. The incident involved the transportation of a prospect and their parents by an individual named Atkins to an off-campus meeting with a booster. This booster held the dual role of being the CEO of an NIL collective and a booster to the program.
During the meeting, the booster encouraged the prospect to enroll at FSU and offered an NIL opportunity with the collective worth approximately $15,000 per month for the prospect’s first year at the university. Following the meeting, the booster contacted the prospect and their mother via text message and/or phone call.
However, the prospect ultimately decided not to enroll at FSU and did not enter into an agreement with the booster or receive any compensation. The NCAA determined that this meeting violated multiple recruiting rules, resulting in a three-year disassociation ban for the booster and a one-year disassociation ban for the collective.
FSU is also facing consequences for the violation, including a reduction in the number of in-person recruiting days for the upcoming season and a decrease in official visits. The NCAA further found that Atkins, the individual responsible for transporting the prospect, knowingly provided false or misleading information during the investigation. As a result, Atkins received a two-year show cause order, which includes a two-week restriction on recruiting communication and a fall restriction on off-campus recruiting.
A First-of-its-Kind Penalty
This case marks the first time the NCAA has penalized a school for using name, image, and likeness compensation as a recruiting inducement. However, it is important to note that head coach Mike Norvell was not found responsible for any recruiting violations, as clarified by FSU.
Player Background
The prospect involved in the violation is Amarius Mims, a former five-star recruit. Mims entered the transfer portal in April 2022 after winning a national championship with Georgia as a true freshman. Later, in December 2023, he declared for the NFL draft.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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