The NCAA announced on Wednesday that Georgia running back Todd Gurley will be suspended for two more games after an investigation revealed that he accepted more than $3,000 in cash from multiple individuals for autographed memorabilia.
Georgia released a statement after the ruling was made official saying the school plans to appeal the decision “immediately.”
The NCAA claims Gurley received payments for signing various items over the past two years. He has been ordered to repay a portion of the money to the charity of his choice and complete 40 hours of community service before he can be reinstated.
Gurley has already missed two games, and the NCAA noted that punishing him with a four-game ban is consistent with precedent that has been set in similar cases. The NCAA considered harsher punishment since the violations took place over multiple seasons, but Gurley’s “full disclosure of his involvement” apparently helped his cause.
A previous report indicated that Gurley was paid $2,000 for two autograph sessions, but the NCAA has determined that there were more signings. ESPN’s Darren Rovell reports that Gurley was known to “proactively arrange deals” with autograph brokers through social media, so he was doing more than just accepting money.
Assuming the remainder of Gurley’s suspension holds up, he’ll be eligible to return against Auburn on Nov. 15. The Bulldogs have gone 2-0 during his absence, with freshman running back Nick Chubb rushing for 345 yards on 68 carries during that span.
