The recruitment saga of four-star athlete Legend Bey has taken a bizarre and potentially legal turn following allegations that his National Letter of Intent (NLI) to Tennessee may have been forged by his mother.
New reports surfacing Friday suggest that Bey’s mother traveled to Knoxville alone the weekend prior to National Signing Day to meet with Volunteers staff and collect the necessary paperwork. Sources indicate that Bey, who had publicly flipped his commitment to Ohio State in November, was not present for this meeting.
The situation escalated when Bey officially signed with Tennessee on Wednesday, a move that stunned recruiting analysts given his apparent preference for the Buckeyes. However, it is now alleged that Bey’s signature on the binding document may not be his own.
Allegations of Forgery and Coercion
According to reports from Rivals and 247Sports, there is growing belief that Bey’s mother may have signed her son’s name to the NLI without his consent. Because Bey is currently 17 years old, NCAA rules require a parent or legal guardian to co-sign the agreement for it to be valid. However, the player’s signature must still be authentic and voluntary.
Wow. Rivals says Legend Bey’s mom went to Knoxville by herself the week before signing day to meet with staff and pick up paperwork.
Also adds Bey’s signature ultimately may have been forged and he still wants to go to Ohio State.
Horrible situation.
pic.twitter.com/MVj5mNvfoG— The Silver Bulletin (@tSilverBulletin) December 6, 2025
If proven, the forgery would render the NLI null and void, potentially opening the door for an immediate recruitment reset.
Bey Voices Frustration on Social Media
The athlete has not remained silent regarding the controversy. In a series of now-deleted social media posts, Bey expressed that he was being forced into a decision he did not support.
“I won’t sign to the school [my brother] and my mother wants,” Bey wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), claiming his family had access to his accounts and was deleting his pro-Ohio State content.
Later, in a comment on TikTok that has since circulated widely, Bey was even more direct about his intentions.
“Unfortunately it’s true, but I would like for everyone to give my mom the utmost respect,” Bey wrote. “I turn 18 in 20 days so it most likely will be Go Bucks.”
The Path to Ohio State
For Bey to enroll at Ohio State as intended, several procedural steps must occur:
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Voiding the NLI: If the signature is proven to be forged, the NLI is invalid. Bey would be a free agent immediately.
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Requesting a Release: Even if the document is technically valid, Bey can request a release from Tennessee. Given the public nature of the dispute and the allegations of family coercion, Tennessee may choose to grant the release to avoid a prolonged public relations battle.
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Age of Majority: Bey turns 18 on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). Once he reaches the age of majority, he no longer requires parental consent to sign legal documents. He could then sign a valid financial aid agreement with Ohio State, provided he has been released from the Tennessee obligation or the Tennessee NLI is declared void.
For now, Bey remains a Tennessee signee on paper, but the validity of that paper is under intense scrutiny.
