'College GameDay' Visit Violation Costs Ohio State Chance at 5-Star Recruit Micah Parsons

Ohio State has agreed to stop recruiting five-star defensive end Micah Parsons after the university self-reported a recruiting violation that occurred on Sept. 9 when Parsons visited the set of College GameDay. The show was in Columbus in advance of the Buckeyes’ early-season game against Oklahoma and Peters was photographed with Lee Corso, Rece Davis, Kirk herbstreit and guest picker Eddie George, The Lantern reports.

"While on a campus tour led by football recruiting assistant Ed Terwilliger, the recruit met Herbstreit on the show’s set, took a photo with two College GameDay analysts who are not former Ohio State players — believed to be Corso and Davis — while sitting on-stage, and met George off the set, according to the records. Though recruits on official visits are able to speak with former student-athletes of the school they are visiting, they are not allowed to “have contact with members of the media associated with former student-athletes.” “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,” Ohio State’s self-violation report said."

According to the report, Parsons was allowed to access areas of the set not open to the public and was given a credential. Following this, Ohio State athletics weren’t permitted anywhere near the GameDay set for the rest of the year.

The lesson here: the fellas may be coming to your city, but the blue-chip recruits should stay far, far away.