Report: MSU LB Leo Lewis received over $20,000 during recruitment; his mother alleges $650,000 payment from LSU
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The NCAA’s investigation into Ole Miss may be over but the drama surrounding the events revolving around the case heading into the Sept. 11 hearing with the Committee on Infractions continues to rage on in Mississippi.
The latest bit of news comes from Steven Godfrey of SB Nation. In an article published Friday, Godfrey alleges Mississippi State linebacker Leo Lewis took over $21,000 from “multiple SEC programs” leading up to National Signing Day in 2015. If you recall his recruitment, Lewis was committed to Ole Miss but decommitted during the dead period just before signing day.
Following that decision, Lewis obviously signed with MSU over LSU and Ole Miss.
Per Godfrey’s report, attorneys for Ole Miss allege Lewis was paid $11,000 to sign with Mississippi State. While Lewis claims an Ole Miss booster paid him $10,000 during his recruitment.
In exchange for his testimony, Lewis was granted immunity by the NCAA, however, that immunity does not extend to Mississippi State. So if it’s proven the school had any role in the payments, the NCAA would not likely go easy on Dan Mullen’s program.
Another interesting note from the article alleges an audio tape exists of a conversation between Lewis’ mother and former Ole Miss assistant Barney Farrar — Farrar has since been fired from Ole Miss as a result of the NCAA investigation. In the tape, Lewis’ mother alleges to have been offered $650,000 from LSU and $80,000 from Mississippi State during her son’s recruitment. It’s not stated if either statement is factual.
Lewis has been called to appear for the Sept. 11 hearing with the Committee on Infractions. It’s worth noting that Mississippi State will be coming off a Sept. 9 game at Louisiana Tech and preparing for a Sept. 16 game against LSU that week.
The entire report can be read here.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
