### Hunter Dekkers Joins New Orleans Saints as Undrafted Free Agent

Hunter Dekkers, a former NCAA quarterback who lost his eligibility due to betting on his own team, has signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. The team made the announcement on Tuesday, following Dekkers’ participation in their rookie minicamp last weekend.

Dekkers' signing comes in the wake of quarterback Derek Carr's retirement. As part of their roster adjustments, the Saints also waived linebacker Anfernee Orji.

In 2023, Dekkers pleaded guilty to underage gambling, which resulted in a $645 fine. This followed a state investigation that implicated multiple sports teams at both Iowa and Iowa State. Dekkers admitted to wagering on 26 Iowa State events, including a notable game against Oklahoma State in 2021. Legal documents revealed a scheme involving Dekkers and his parents, aiming to disguise his betting activities as those of his mother on the DraftKings platform. Dekkers placed 366 mobile or online bets, totaling over $2,799, with 297 of these bets made when he was under the legal betting age of 21, as stipulated by Iowa law.

As a consequence of his actions, Dekkers sat out the 2023 season and was denied reinstatement by the NCAA. Nevertheless, he enrolled at Iowa Western Community College for the 2024 season. During his time there, he led the team to an 11-2 record and a berth in the NJCAA national title game, although they ultimately lost 28-23 to Hutchinson Community College. Over the course of 13 games, Dekkers threw for 3,806 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with a completion rate of 64.1 percent.

The Saints’ decision to sign Dekkers underscores their belief in his potential to perform at a professional level despite his checkered past.