Ohio State had to stop recruiting 5-star DE Micah Parsons due to a strange NCAA bylaw

Ohio State was in the lead to land five-star defensive end Micah Parsons for their incoming class of 2018, but a chance encounter with the cast of ESPN’s College GameDay would lead to the Buckeyes self-reporting a violation to the NCAA and ultimately sidelining their recruitment of Parsons, according to a report by The Lantern.

Back on Sept. 9 when Parsons was making his official visit to Ohio State, College GameDay was also on campus covering the Ohio State-Oklahoma game. The 2018 prospect wound up meeting former Buckeye Kirk Herbstreit, but it was getting his picture taken with the other members of the GameDay panel that was the problem. Since those other panel members aren’t alumni, the meeting goes against the rule that recruits are not to “have contact with members of the media associated with former student-athletes.”

According to The Lantern, Ohio State’s self-reported violation said, “As such, a violation of NCAA Bylaws 13.10.1 and 13.10.2.4 occurred, as members of the media may not be present during an institution’s recruiting contact with a prospect and a prospect may not participate in team activities that would make the public or media aware of the prospect’s visit to the institution.”

All of this doesn’t mean that Parsons won’t still end up at Ohio State. He’s expected to make his final decision on Wednesday, Day 1 of the Early Signing Period, and posted a top 6 list, which still includes the Buckeyes.