Report: The Iowa Hawkeyes football key player is being suspended from all sports for placing a bet against…
Noah Shannon considers his gambling ban but doesn’t waver in his goal of an NFL career.
IOWA CITY For Noah Shannon, a Wednesday in October with no news appeared to portend terrible news.
According to the former Iowa defensive lineman, “you kind of just got that idea like, ‘Yeah, it’s not happening.”
Shannon had the opportunity to play for the Hawkeyes once again while the NCAA reexamined its policies regarding sports wagering. However, the reexamination did not provide a ruling on that Wednesday in late October, but instead resulted in a two-week postponement.
Shannon remarked, “You kind of just dwindle all the way back down once your hopes get up.”
Shannon acknowledged that his year-long ban from sports wagering during his final year of college eligibility was an unpleasant development, saying, “I’m not going to sit here and say it was super easy having to forfeit your senior season.” Nevertheless, he has tried to accept the situation as best he can.
“In life, you won’t always get your way,” Shannon remarked. This was somewhat similar to my previous experience with hardship, but I understand that God is merely preparing me for what lies ahead in life. Adversity won’t be my first or last experience for me.
Shannon “got a lot closer with God, got a lot closer with my family, and got a lot closer with my teammates as well” during the year he spent developing himself off the field while his on-field development was put on hold.
“One of my favorite teammates of all-time” is Shannon, according to fellow defensive lineman Joe Evans.
Evans remarked, “He comes in and works his ass off every day.” “You wouldn’t have known that this accusation or anything else was going on when he came in every single day. Who else could have accomplished that, I’m not sure.
In addition, Shannon had to learn how to “control what you can control,” which allowed him in “late October, November-ish” to accept his situation.
“Until I realized that I have no control over what’s happening now, I don’t think I was really at peace with myself and forgave myself,” Shannon stated. “I did when I made the error earlier, but I now have to deal with the consequences.”
Shannon broke the NCAA’s sports wagering regulations when he bet on a University of Iowa sports team but not on football. The data surfaced in the course of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s investigation into sports betting, which has drawn more attention in the past several months.
Prosecutors eventually dismissed the remaining charges against Iowa State athletes after a counsel for two former football players claimed earlier this year that the DCI’s techniques of gathering information for its investigation amounted to a “warrantless search.”
When the NCAA “is ruling on an investigation that they did not instigate, using an uneven system of justice to severely punish an excellent young man,” as Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz put it in November of last year.
Shannon’s absence from the 2023 season seems to have harmed him in the pre-draft phase. Shannon missed out on invitations to the NFL Combine, Senior Bowl, and East-West Shrine Bowl, three events where he could have courted NFL scouts. Shannon was an honorable mention all-Big Ten twice.
Shannon has two years of video as a starter, which is fantastic news as he gets ready for the NFL Draft. In 2022, Iowa’s defense led the nation with just 3.99 yards allowed per play. In 2020, he contributed significantly as a substitute as well.
“Having played for two years makes a big difference when scouts ask you about your greatest game. Which game is your worst? stated Shannon.
Shannon “definitely wouldn’t say I’ve lost my football edge,” even though it has been more than 14 months since his final collegiate football game.
“I was able to practice for a good portion of October, if not all of it, when they did open up the reinstatement process,” Shannon remarked. “And during fall camp, I was practicing in August as well.”
Shannon added that following Iowa’s pro day on Monday, he had meetings with a “couple” NFL teams.
Shannon remarked, “They had some great things to say.” “I’m excited to see what comes next and to keep developing relationships with them.”
In spite of the uncertainties surrounding his NFL future, Shannon will at least bring the advantages of a 2023 season filled with off-field development with him.
“They say ‘new year, new you,’ whatever, but given how much I’ve changed and grown since last year, I truly feel like it’s ‘new me,'” Shannon remarked.
