The mother of top NFL draft prospect Jayden Daniels, who was the quarterback for Arizona State before winning a Heisman Trophy with LSU, has been accused of recruiting violations during the COVID no-visit period.
Arizona State agreed to disassociate with Daniels’ mom, Regina Jackson, for five years after she allegedly paid for flights and lodging for recruits who visited Arizona State during the dead period, according to 247Sports.
Daniels, who could go as high as No. 2 in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, transferred from Arizona State to LSU ahead of the 2022 season and won the Heisman this past season.
Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers speaks to the media during the 2024 NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and his mother embrace after he won college football’s Heisman Award on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, in New York. APFormer ASU head coach Herm Edwards agreed to a five-year show-cause penalty in a negotiated resolution with NCAA’s Committee on Infractions for his role in recruiting violations, according to the report.
The 6-foot-4 Daniels played under Edwards for three seasons before he transferred to LSU from ASU in 2022.
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That September, Edwards stepped down as head coach following a loss to Eastern Michigan and ASU paid him $4.4 million severance.
Daniels and Jackson have yet to publicly address the report.
The 23-year-old quarterback completed 236 of 327 passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with just four interceptions last season, while also rushing for 1,134 yards and another 10 scores, leading the Tigers to a 9-3 record in his final season.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with his parents on senior day, for his final home game, before an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. APThe NCAA announced last week it reached an agreement with ASU regarding recruiting violations committed during the COVID-19 period.
The Committee on Infractions determined that Edwards, now 69, extensively participated in impermissible recruiting, meeting with prospects on campus and elsewhere, including at a Paradise Valley house rented specifically for recruiting purposes in July 2020.
The agreement also states that ASU will vacate nine of its 10 wins in the 2021-22 season for the use of one or more ineligible players.
“The school’s acceptance of responsibility and decision to self-impose meaningful core penalties is a model for all schools to follow and is consistent with the expectations of the NCAA’s infractions program,” said Jason Leonard, chief hearing officer for the Committee on Infractions panel.
Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates with head coach Herm Edwards, right, after an NCAA college football game win over Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. AP Quarterback Jayden Daniels 5 as the LSU Tigers take on Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 25, 2023. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORKEdwards’ punishment began on April 15, along with six other former staffers — assistant coaches Prentice Gill, Derek Hagan, Chris Hawkins, Zak Hill and Robert Rodriguez, and equipment employee Eric Bowman — who were served with show-cause penalties of between three and 10 years.
New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, a former ASU assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator, will have his case heard separately by the Committee on Infractions, according to 247sports.com.
As part of the agreement, ASU will not be allowed to host recruits for four weeks between April 15 and Aug. 1 and is not permitted to have communication with recruits for four additional weeks in the same period.
