Willie Lyles, a recruiting scout involved in an ongoing NCAA investigation, was implicated in a pay-for-play scheme for former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, ESPN reported late Wednesday.
Former Texas A&M secondary coach Van Malone told ESPN that Lyles said he needed to top “$80,000” to sign Peterson.
LSU Associate Athletic Director and Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette told The Daily Reveille he hadn’t seen the report.
“I haven’t heard that,” Bonnette said.
Lyles was already in hot water about possible NCAA violations with Oregon and LSU. Prior to the report, LSU officials claimed they merely paid Lyles for game tapes of prospects. It would be an NCAA violation if Lyles were directly involved with a recruit.
Peterson’s father, Patrick Peterson Sr., told ESPN that Lyles runs a kind of “escort service.”
“This is my first time hearing this … shocker,” Peterson Sr. said. “It could have happened.”
The rumor follows an HBO report of Auburn paying former players. LSU was named in the report, as former Auburn defensive end Stanley McClover told HBO he received a $500 “money handshake” while at an all-star camp in Baton Rouge.
Sports Writer Michael Lambert
contributed to this report.
 
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