Central Florida Loses Another Commitment After NCAA Sanctions

The University of Central Florida continues to have repercussions after the NCAA cited them earlier this summer for lack of institutional control over their recruiting practices. UCF was banned from any post season play in football and men's basketball for an entire year and fined $50,000 dollars after a year long investigation by the NCAA. The investigation prompted a resignation by their athletic director Keith Dribble last November.

Most of the investigation was into the university's dealings with a man named Ken Caldwell, who is known by most in the recruiting world as a “runner.” Caldwell has denied any wrongdoing and continues to maintain his innocence; he has even went on YouTube saying he was treated unfairly and unjustly.

Because of the issues happening within the athletic department at UCF, several football and basketball and football recruits have backed away from the school. Three senior basketball players have also left the team over the summer, and on Tuesday, another talented prospect announced that he is backing out of his commitment to Central Florida.

Richard Benjamin, a wide receiver from Tampa Bay Tech, reopened his recruitment Wednesday after committing in June of this year. Benjamin's high school coach told Tampa Bay News of his decommitment:

"In light of the sanctions that came down on UCF, he isn’t 100 percent sure what the program is going to be like when he gets there. He is opening it up to weigh his options to see what else is out there.”

Benjamin is planning on taking visits to Louisville, Texas A&M and West Virginia.

Benjamin is a 3-star prospect and is ranked the 48th best wide receiver in the 2013 class by Rivals.com. He has 4.4 speed with great hands, and also played some safety during his junior year in high school. He had 22 offers before committing to UCF, including Florida, West Virginia, Michigan, Auburn and Alabama.

ESPN says of him in their scouting report:

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"Benjamin possesses one of the best size/speed combos in this class. He's got adequate height, with bulk and somewhat of a stocky build, possesses terrific speed and explosiveness. Overall athleticism is excellent, is a fluid and explosive prospect"

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NCAA investigations have become a regular part of college sports. Even big schools like the University of Miami have fallen into costly recruiting violations. The recruiting industry has become a very profitable business and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. And where there is profit there is always going to be people trying to get some crumbs to trickle down to them.