Arland Bruce, Iowa Transfer, Charged in NCAA Gambling Investigation

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State slot receiver Arland Bruce IV, who was at OSU in the spring and as of Thursday morning was practicing with the Cowboys in fall camp has been charged with gambling on sports including 11 games he played in for the University of Iowa. The Des Moines Register newspaper was the first to report the story. 

Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Bruce (1) in line at practice on Thursday.

Oklahoma State officials have not commented on the situation or status of Bruce. However, it is important to note that none of the charges have any association with Oklahoma State or Bruce since he transferred to OSU in January. Pokes Report does know Oklahoma State staff were aware that Bruce was a highly potential suspect in the Iowa and Iowa State investigation.

According to reports from the Iowa Press Citizen newspaper, where we first saw the story, a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County Attorney's Office alleges that Bruce placed bets on 11 Hawkeye games in which he participated over two seasons. Bruce allegedly used a DraftKings account under the name of Vincent Bruce to place bets before he turned 21, the legal gambling age in Iowa. Bruce completed 132 sports wagers totaling $4,342, according to the complaint.

There were others involved at both Iowa and at Iowa State that were charged on Thursday. At Iowa walk on receiver Jack Johnson, student manager Owen O’Brien, and transfer safety Reggie Bracy now at Troy were all charged along with Bruce IV.

NCAA rules state that any athlete that places bets on his or her team in any sport faces permanent loss of eligibility. Two other Hawkeyes players were cited on gambling charges in the story written by Ryan Hansen. This is similar to the situation at Iowa State with quarterback Hunter Dekkers.

The tampering with records charge is an aggravated misdemeanor and could carry a maximum sentence of up to one year in county jail or up to two years in prison if convicted. The criminal complaints accuse Bracy, Bruce, Johnson and O'Brien of falsifying electronic sports wagering records to conceal their personal identities.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23905014-bruce-redacted

Sean Maguire of Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations said that OSU was still in the fact gathering process and not in a position to comment at this time. It is a safe expectation that Bruce will not be practicing as he has much more important issues to deal with at this point. 

He would helped with both his ability as a solot receiver and as a kick and punt returner, but Oklahoma State has Brennan Presley, Blaine Green, and several other receivers including promising freshmen Camron Heard and Jalen Pope at the slot position.