USC star WR Marqise Lee also being investigated by NCAA for receiving money for autographs

While Texas A&M Aggies star quarterback Johnny Manziel is in the headlines for the NCAA investigation on whether or not he received money in exchange for autographs, another of the top players in the nation has also been looked into for the same “crime.”

USC Trojans wide receiver Marqise Lee is being investigated and linked to the same autograph broker that Johnny Manziel was allegedly involved with at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale during a ceremony to honor the players for the awards they received last season.

USC’s Vice President of Athletic Compliance, Dave Roberts, released a statement on the NCAA investigation:

"“USC recently received an inquiry that floated Marqise Lee’s name and the autograph signing situation in Miami that has been in the news lately.“As is USC’s policy, USC immediately and diligently investigated the inquiry. Last January, Marqise and other college football award winners were in Miami to be honored by the Orange Bowl Committee at the BCS Championship Game. While there, Lee signed several photographs, some that were personalized, for an individual who represented himself as a fan and collector. Some of those photos have since been offered for sale online. “USC has determined there was no NCAA infraction and is in the process of sending a cease-and-desist letter to the individual demanding that he stop selling any photos signed by Lee.”"

Lee responded to the issue with a brief statement of his own.

“I believed that the individual who asked me to sign the photos was a fan and collector. I did not ask to be paid, I was not offered anything, I did not get anything and I did not authorize my autographs to be sold,” he said, via USA Today. “I will make no further comments regarding this statement or anything related to it.”

Lee seems like he will avoid any punishment from the NCAA, but it isn’t looking nearly as good for Manziel.