Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Date: May 02, 2025

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 19.10.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. Recruiting violations occurred in the University of California, Berkeley football program when several staff members arranged and conducted a Zoom call with three former players during the program’s Junior Day. Additional violations occurred when the former director of player development engaged impermissible recruiting contacts and communications with several prospects and their families. The case was processed via negotiated resolution and was approved by the Division I Committee on Infractions. The parties agreed that despite being told three days prior by the school’s compliance department that it was not permissible, several members of the football staff facilitated a Zoom call with three former Cal players — a then-NFL coach, current NFL player and former NFL player, all three of whom are considered boosters — and 44 prospects (and 80 of their family members) during the program’s Junior Day. The football staff involved in the violation included Marshall Cherrington, director of player personnel; Andrew McGraw, football chief of staff; and Benji Palu, director of recruiting.

Penalty Summary: One year of probation; a fine of $25,000; a two-week prohibition on official visits during the 2025 football season; a three-week ban on recruiting communications during the 2024-25 academic year; a reduction in the number of recruiting-person days for the 2024-25 academic year by seven; a two-week ban on unofficial visits from March 31 through April 14, 2025, including the 2025 spring game; a 16-day ban for Wilcox from any off-campus recruiting activities (served January and February 2025); a three-week ban for McGraw from phone calls and other recruiting communications (served March 2025); a two-week ban for Cherrington from in-person recruiting contacts and other recruiting communications during spring 2025; a two-week suspension for McGraw during the spring of 2025; one-game suspensions for Cherrington and Palu during the 2024 football season; a two-year show-cause order for Parker, during which time he must be restricted from all athletically related responsibilities during the first year and restricted from off-campus recruiting activities during the second year. If he is employed by an NCAA member school during that show-cause period, he will also be suspended from 30% of the regular-season football games during his second year of employment.; and unless he is employed at Cal, Parker will be disassociated by the school for two years, the specific conditions of which are included in the decision.

Involved Sports:
Football

Case Level: II

Involved Penalties:

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