UCF Kicker Ruled Ineligible Due to YouTube Channel

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University of Central Florida kicker Donald De La Haye has reportedly been ruled ineligible to compete this season after he refused the stipulations of an NCAA waiver related to his popular YouTube channel.

De La Haye made headlines recently after it was revealed that his YouTube channel, which has more than 91,000 subscribers, ran afoul of NCAA eligibility rules. That number of subscribers means that De La Haye makes some money from maintaining his channel.

At issue was whether or not De La Haye would be allowed to use his athletic reputation in an endeavor for which he could be paid.

From ABYouTube or UCF? Player’s Channel Raises Amateurism Concerns

In a statement, the NCAA said that De La Haye had been granted a waiver to maintain his YouTube account and make money from it, provided he separate athletically-related videos from non-athletic ones.

“Although Donald De La Haye has chosen not to compete any longer as a UCF student-athlete, he could have continued playing football for the university and earn money from non-athletic YouTube videos, based on the waiver the NCAA granted on July 14,” the statement reads.

De La Haye’s eligibility was the subject of one of his videos, titled “QUIT COLLEGE SPORTS OR QUIT YOUTUBE?” which had over 181 thousand views as of this writing.

“Contrary to misperceptions, making a YouTube video — and even making money off of it — is not a violation of an NCAA rule,” the statement from the NCAA continues. “Further, years ago, the membership gave NCAA staff the ability to review situations like these on a case-by-case basis, consistent with previous actions.”

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