Scott Frost, Nebraska, thinks the state of Oregon could have been falsified

Nebraska coach Scott Frost said Thursday that potential frauds from the state of Oregon had led the Cornhuskers to enroll the Pac-12 school among the institutions unauthorized to contact the Greg Bell shoe carrier about a potential transfer.

Bell, a highly qualified junior prospect hired by Frost last December, kicked off the Cornhuskers' first three games this season. He then applied for a scholarship in the week after losing first place on September 29 against Purdue.

Nebraska has granted his release but has prevented Bell from talking to his Big Ten colleagues, Nebraska's opponents other than the conference, over the next three years and the state of Oregon.

Three Nebraska players have recently been transferred to OSU, including Tristan Gebbia, a former 4-star prospect, a quarterback and catcher Tyjon Lindsey. Both players were recruited to Nebraska by former coach Mike Riley, who is now working as an Oregon State analyst under Jonathan Smith.

Former Nebraska assistant Trent Bray is also part of the OSU staff, as are three former Nebraska football administrative staff members.

"There is no doubt in my mind that these kids were probably in contact with people they once knew to be here," Frost said of Gebbia, Lindsey and linebacker Avery Roberts.

This is not the first time that the state of Oregon is accused of falsification. In May, Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich called the Oregon State on social media for sending recruiting materials to his current players. Oregon State stated that the shipments were unintentional and that it was required to abide by the NCAA rules. Three assistants from the state of Oregon have been working in Hawaii in recent years.

NCAA rules prohibit any contact with a currently registered player regarding a potential transfer from an outside school.

Frost said "It's hard for me to criticize [Oregon State] without being hypocritical, "noting that he had been talking to his former UCF player, McKenzie Milton, this week only to wish good luck to the quarterback.

"But at the same time," said Frost, "if someone contacts our children while they are still our children, I will not be a fan of that."

Oregon State did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bell said last week that he was confident that he would find a destination and thanked Frost in a statement posted on Twitter.

Changes to the transfer system that will come into effect on Monday will cancel instructions such as those issued last week by Nebraska. The new rule, a step toward introducing a reform of the transfer process, allows an athlete student to inform his school of the desired transfer.

The school then has two days to place the student-athlete in a transfer database. Restrictions on contact authorization for transfer of players will no longer exist.

In the case of Bell, he could again inform Nebraska of his intention to transfer next week and would not be subject to any restrictions.

Another rule change that came into effect this year will increase the potential penalty for alteration.