Fisher, who had just been hired by Texas A&M, and an assistant coach had impermissible contact with a recruit, the NCAA said without identifying the coaches by name. The assistant, Jay Graham, is now a member of Jeremy Pruitt’s staff at Tennessee.

”While I am disappointed in the violations, including an unintended one that resulted from a conversation with a high school athlete, it is still my responsibility to ensure we are adhering to each and every rule,” Fisher said in a statement issued by the school. ”I am pleased to have this matter completely behind our program and look forward to continuing our efforts to make every aspect of our program one all Aggies can continue to be proud of.”

Fisher is 17-9 with two bowl victories in his first two seasons in College Station. Texas A&M signed Fisher to a 10-year, $75 million contract after he won a national title and three Atlantic Coast Conference championships in eight seasons at Florida State.

The negotiated resolution with the NCAA came after it found Fisher ”failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” As part of his punishments, Fisher was banned from phone calls, emails and texts with prospects for nine days in January.

The program itself was fined $5,000 and given several other recruiting restrictions after the NCAA found that several players exceeded activity limits on multiple occasions during the 2018 offseason. Among the restrictions are a reduction of official visits by 17 days during the current academic year; a seven-day off-campus recruiting ban during this past spring’s recruiting period; and a 10-day ban for off-campus recruiting for the entire staff during this fall’s recruiting period.

Graham was also given a six-month show cause order by the NCAA.

”During the process of hiring coach Jay Graham, we were made aware of the circumstances at his previous institution, and we vetted it thoroughly in accordance with NCAA and SEC bylaws,” Tennessee athletics said in a statement Thursday. ”We established and maintain extremely high confidence in Coach Graham’s commitment to compliance and are proud to have him on our staff.”

The case was heard by a panel that included chief hearing officer Alberto Gonzales, Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi and former Northern Illinois football coach Joseph D. Novak. They said circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could impact how the remaining recruiting restrictions are implemented.

”Since I arrived at Texas A&M, I have seen up close and personal Coach Fisher’s commitment to integrity and following the rules. I appreciate his response, including actions taken during the process itself,” Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said in a statement. ”This will have no impact on our current or future student-athletes, the 2020 postseason, or our pursuit of championship success on and off the field.”

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Fisher made the announcement in a brief statement released by FSU on Monday night.

Johnson, who was named Florida’s “Mr. Football” as a senior at First Coast High School in Jacksonville, Florida, was indefinitely suspended from the team in June. He was charged with misdemeanor battery for striking the 21-year-old woman during an argument June 24. He surrendered to Tallahassee police on June 30 and was released on $500 bond.

The video, which was captured by security cameras in a bar near the FSU campus, shows Johnson trying to push past the woman, who was waiting to order at the bar. The woman turned toward Johnson, who grabbed her right arm after she raised it in a fist. The woman raised her knee and swung at Johnson with her left arm, and then he punched her in the face.

According to the Tallahassee Police Department incident report, the woman, an FSU student, suffered bruising near her left eye, swelling of the left cheek and upper lip, and a small cut near the bridge of her nose.

State’s attorney Willie Meggs, who decided to charge Johnson after seeing video of the incident, said the woman still had a black eye when he met with her last week.

Johnson’s family has retained prominent criminal defense and trial attorney Jose Baez, who is best known for obtaining an acquittal in the Casey Anthony murder trial in Orlando.

“While it is clear from the video that De’Andre Johnson was not the initial aggressor, his family wants to take the lead in helping him learn and grow from this experience,” Baez said Monday in a statement. “He is currently participating in community service and faith-based programs focused on battered women, substance abuse and the empowerment of children.

“De’Andre is extremely embarrassed by this situation and would like to express his heartfelt apologies to everyone, including those who were directly affected, Coach Fisher and his teammates, the entire Florida State University community, as well as his family and friends.”

Johnson, who enrolled at FSU in January after graduating early from high school, wasn’t thought to be a contender for the Seminoles’ starting job this coming season. Junior Sean Maguire and Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson, who enrolled at FSU this summer, are believed to be the top choices to replace 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, who was the No. 1 pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April’s NFL draft.

Freshman Deondre Francois of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, also joined FSU’s quarterback competition this summer. He was ranked the country’s No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and No. 42 overall prospect in the ESPN 300.

Johnson was ranked the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback as a senior. He passed for 3,710 yards and 47 touchdowns while running for 398 yards and nine scores the past season, as he led First Coast High to a 12-1 record. He finished his prep career with 11,697 total yards.

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