The introduction of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rights was supposed to be a game-changer for college athletes. NIL deals allowed them to make money off their personal brand while still competing in sports at the collegiate level. And a game-changer it has been—Athletes are making millions in college, signing endorsement deals and building brands before they ever play in a professional game. However, as NIL deals grow, so does the argument that they are making too much or too little. College athletes are making too much money, they are losing incentive to go onto the next level because of their salaries in college, and they are losing sight of what it means to develop as a student and an athlete.
College sports are supposed to be about development-both as an athlete and as a student. Collegiate athletics are not professional sports, and yet, top players are now earning more than some professional rookie contracts in the NBA or NFL. Look at Miami quarterback Carson Beck, he had a great season at Georgia and had the chance to enter the NFL draft as a higher-end quarterback, especially in this year’s weak QB class, but instead he entered the transfer portal and ended up in Miami, securing a four million dollar NIL deal. Four million dollars before ever taking a snap in the pros. Carson Beck was a projected second or third round quarterback, so he will be making more guaranteed money off his NIL deal than he would most likely have in his first professional season. Beck had no incentive to go to the next level, and that is unacceptable in college sports, but it’s not just football.
The same thing is happening with college basketball. Armando Bacot is a North Carolina forward and a dominant rebounder who was a projected second-round pick or to go undrafted in the NBA. Therefore, Bacot decided to stay in college to make NIL money. Bacot had even publicly stated that he would make more money at UNC through NIL deals than he would have as a rookie in the NBA or G League. He reportedly made over $500,000 in NIL deals which is far more than most second-round draft picks whose contracts aren’t always fully guaranteed. Bacot profited more money by choosing not to play on the main stage.
Recently, there has been talks about not only seniors and older players receiving this kind of money but also freshman players/recruits. Cooper Flagg, the freshman phenom playing basketball at Duke, has been noted to have an NIL evaluation over $4.8 million dollars. Now even though he was the best player in the class, this is more money than if he were to go straight to the NBA. Another name that was being talked about was Bryce Underwood. Bryce is a senior in high school and is the No.1 football recruit in the nation. He plays quarterback and was originally committed to LSU to play football. However, through bargaining, Michigan was able to land the superstar and their contract that they gave him was $10 million dollars over 4 years. This is way too much money for a senior in high school who hasn’t even played a snap of football in college and this is not promoting football as development to go to the next level, but actually promoting it more like a business. And yes, it is good to get the college athletic experience but there is a certain point where it is too much as it is seen here. Both of these athletes were given salaries that some players drafted couldn’t even dream of. NIL was meant to promote players developing their names as it would eventually prepare them for the next level, however, it took college athletics by storm and now it has completely redefined what it has meant to play college athletics.
The introduction of NIL was definitely a major shift from what college athletics were and this is seen from all athletes ranging from seniors in high school to seniors in college. As this next wave of college programs begins to develop, who knows what’s in store for athletes. Will NIL take a step back from all of the criticism? Will it continue to prosper as social media helps the players’ names spread? All we know is that NIL was something to make college athletes understands what it means to be a professional athlete and some of them have got better treatment then most, but we will have to continue to see if NIL will continue.