Finding recruits that meet Stanford University’s exacting academic standards, yet can compete on the field at a Power 5 level is never easy. Thus, it makes it all the more significant when the university rescinds a scholarship offer to a four-star football recruit, like it did during the spring with prospective football player Ayden Hector.
Hector, who played his high school football at East Side Catholic in Bellevue, Washington, was among those players questioned during an eight-month long investigation into sexual assault allegations that produced no charges.
Believing there was more to the story, which wasn’t being told, The Seattle Times filed a public records request in King County, Washington. Stanford joined in the filing.
About the decision to rescind the offer to Hector, Stanford assistant athletic director Brian Risso issued the following statement: “Under university policy, Stanford may rescind the admission of an applicant based upon a review of additional information. The university has taken that step with regard to an incoming undergraduate for fall 2020 who was scheduled to be a football student-athlete.”
A lawyer for Hector and other players told The Times Hector had only witnessed the incident.
Hector issued the following statement on his twitter feed:
“Two years ago, I was one of several witnesses who cooperated with the authorities in an 8-month long investigation which resulted in no charges being filed. It is unfortunate that complete strangers, including media outlets, have passed off false speculations, hearsay, and rumors about me related to this investigation. I can also confirm that Stanford’s decision regarding my admission was not in any way based on me being considered accused or a suspect of sexual misconduct, which I never was.”
