UCF kicker to continue YouTube channel, risking NCAA eligibility

UCF kicker Donald De La Haye announced he will continue to make YouTube videos despite threats of ineligibility from the NCAA.

UCF kicker Donald De La Haye announced he will continue to make YouTube videos despite threats of ineligibility from the NCAA.

Despite a warning from the NCAA threatening ineligibility if he doesn’t stop making videos for his popular YouTube channel, UCF kicker Donald De La Haye announced on Sunday he will take the risk and continue to make videos.

While thankful for his scholarship to UCF which he calls “the greatest blessing” of his life, De La Haye said he can’t stop making videos for his YouTube channel “Deestroying” because it’s become his passion and a large part of his life.

"I've been having to make the hardest choice of my whole entire life: either stop playing sports or stop creating videos," De La Haye said on his YouTube channel.

The UCF compliance office alerted De La Haye last week that earning money off advertisements on his videos was risking his NCAA amateur status.

Since he loves to film, edit and be himself in front of his growing fanbase of 64,000 subscribers, De La Haye said he would have more of a void in his soul without making his videos than he would without football.

De La Haye said he is still waiting to hear from the NCAA and UCF’s compliance office on if he will be suspended from the football team.

De La Haye’s full message can be watched above.

What would you do if you were in his shoes?