After a month of gambling-related controversy surrounding Brendan Sorsby, the Texas Tech transfer quarterback dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA. As a result, he forgoes any hope of eligibility for the upcoming football season.
Instead, he hopes a team will pick him in the NFL supplemental draft.
Sorsby admitted to placing thousands of bets while playing at Indiana University. He placed at least 40 of those wagers on his own team.
Texas Tech announced in May that he was entering treatment for gambling addiction. The NCAA later ruled the quarterback ineligible. Despite winning a temporary injunction against the NCAA in court, Sorsby will still forgo the rest of his career in college athletics.
The move came after other teams threatened to boycott playing the Red Raiders with Sorsby under center. The Big 12 conference considered ruling Sorsby ineligible to play in its conference. Big 12 officials even filed a lawsuit against the university.
Sorsby was set to receive more than $4 million in NIL money for playing at Texas Tech. However, any potential NFL money could offset that loss.
“I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, and community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn more about this important issue,” Sorsby said in a statement. “As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be both on and off the field.”
Draft Future Uncertain
The NFL hasn’t held a supplemental draft since 2023. Furthermore, the last time a franchise selected a player from it was in 2019. The league still must approve Sorsby’s request.
The NFL would hold the draft later this summer. It would allow the pro prospect to sign with a team before the 2025-26 season starts.
There is reported interest in the 22-year-old. However, some teams balk at the potential for further gambling controversies.
The New York Post reported that the Jets were the favorite to land the QB, with a 21% probability, according to Kalshi trading.
That was followed by the Browns (15%), Cardinals (12%), and Bengals (12%). While Sorsby comes with gambling baggage, the Post reported that some teams might see an opportunity to sign a quality prospect at a bargain price.
NFL Not Immune To Betting Issues
While the NFL hasn’t had the wide-ranging betting scandals seen in the NBA and MLB, the league has experienced a few issues over the last few years. In 2023, the league beefed up gambling rules after 10 players were suspended during the offseason because of betting-related offenses.
The same year, the league’s former vice president of officiating said that some referees have been approached at times about swaying games to help gamblers.
