Former Tennessee assistant coach Brian Niedermeyer reportedly gave former Georgia tight end Darnell Washington cash and other gifts on recruiting visits.
A report from Mike Wilson of the Knoxville-News Sentinel conveyed that former Volunteers assistant committed multiple violations while recruiting Washington, a five-star recruit at the time. Niedermeyer reportedly gave Washington $750 in cash during a January 2019 visit to Washington’s high school (Desert Pines).
The report details that the Volunteers gave Washington impermissible benefits totaling $1,713 during two visits in 2019. NCAA documents showed Washington received free lodging on one occasion, free meals on two occasions and UT apparel on two occasions.
Washington signed with the Bulldogs in the 2020 class and went on to contribute mightily to back-to-back national titles. A third-round NFL draft pick this spring, Washington is entering his rookie season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Niedermeyer was fired along with head coach Jeremy Pruitt in 2021 amid a NCAA investigation into the program. The recently released results of the investigation include no bowl ban for Tennessee’s numerous violations, but the school was fined $8 million and will lose 28 scholarships over a five-year period.
The NCAA handed Niedermeyer a five-year show-cause penalty and Pruitt a six-year show-cause penalty for their involvement.
