Sorsby, who transferred to Texas Tech during the offseason, is projected to be a first-round pick for the 2027 NFL draft
Credit: AP Photo/Mitch Alcala
NEED TO KNOW
- Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is stepping away from the Red Raiders team in order to seek treatment for a gambling addiction
- Texas Tech’s coach said in a statement, “We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help”
- This comes after the NCAA reportedly launched an investigation into Sorsby for allegedly placing thousands of online bets, which could impact his player eligibility
A top college football player is stepping away from the sport in order to address a gambling addiction.
Texas Tech star quarterback Brendan Sorsby is taking an immediate leave of absence from the Red Raiders team, the university announced, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, ESPN and Penn Live.
Sorsby, who is currently one of the top quarterbacks in college football and is expected to be a first-round pick for the 2027 NFL draft, will reportedly check into a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction, per the outlets.
PEOPLE has reached out to Texas Tech and the NCAA for a statement.
Credit: David Smith/CSM/Shutterstock
"We love Brendan and support his decision to seek professional help," Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire said in a statement, per ESPN and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "Taking this step requires courage, and our primary focus is on him as a person. Our program is behind Brendan as he prioritizes his health."
Sources told ESPN that the announcement comes after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began investigating Sorsby for gambling — which is prohibited for athletes at both the collegiate and professional level — and could jeopardize his football eligibility.
Credit: Getty
The NCAA told ESPN in a statement that while it will not “comment on current, pending or potential investigations,” it “takes sports betting very seriously and is committed to the protection of student-athlete well-being and the integrity of competition.”
According to the outlet, the Red Raiders quarterback allegedly made thousands of online bets on various sports on a sports gambling app, including on several Indiana University Hoosier basketball games.
The bets, described by ESPN sources as “a steady flurry of small bets over a period of time,” were reportedly made when Sorsby played as a freshman at the university in 2022. However, according to ESPN, Sorsby did not bet on the one Indiana University football game that he appeared in as a reserve.
Sources told ESPN that Sorsby’s participation in gambling has not drawn the attention of law enforcement and he hasn’t been linked to anyone attempting to influence the outcome of a game.
Credit: AP Photo/Mitch Alcala
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
It is unclear how long Sorsby will seek treatment, and this incident is being handled as a mental health matter, sources told ESPN.
Sorsby transferred to Texas Tech during the offseason from Cincinnati after making a name for himself on the football field. Following his transfer, he was projected to be one of the highest-paid players in college football, in-line to make $5 million, per ESPN.
Read the full article here