Iowa kicker Aaron Blom became the latest college football player to be handed charges related to sports betting.
The Johnson County Attorney’s Office charged Blom with tampering with records related to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s probe into sports betting.
It’s the same investigation that has engulfed current and former student-athletes at Iowa State, including the school’s quarterback Hunter Dekker.
Blom is said to have used his mother’s name to set up a DraftKings account, according to USA Today.
Court documents reviewed by the outlet indicated that Blom’s mother had agreed to let her son use her name and identification to set up the accounts, and Blom admitted he placed underage wagers.
The complaint said Blom made 170 mobile wagers through an account on DraftKings “controlled by Aaron Blom.”
The wagers totaled more than $4,400 during a time period between Jan. 28, 2021, to Feb. 22, 2022.
Blom, who was the second-string kicker last season and is a non-scholarship athlete, allegedly bet on eight University of Iowa sporting events, including the 2021 Iowa vs. Iowa State football game.
The complaint also alleges that Blom “routinely and consistently” bet using his personal iPhone from locations on the University of Iowa campus that were “not routinely open to the public,” USA Today reported.
Former University of Iowa baseball player Gehrig Christensen was also caught up in the probe and had been charged with tampering with records on Tuesday.
The tampering with records charge — and aggravated misdemeanor — could come with as many as two years in prison.
Blom’s case holds similarities to Dekker’s, who has also been accused of using his parents’ names to make it seem as though they were placing the bets.
Dekker is also facing charges of tampering with records.
Blom played very little in 2022 for Iowa and made one of his three field goal attempts last season.
Iowa went 8-5 last season.
Read more
