NIL Is A Game Changer
FSU must get its act together when it comes to the NIL deals. I don’t think there’s anything they could have done to prevent what happened with Travis Hunter, because he didn’t sign with Alabama, Georgia, or other heavy hitters.
However, it’s clear the route the NIL deals are going, and FSU must position itself to compete with those schools competing on an elite level. I understand they have made some progress in that department, but I think missing Travis Hunter should open everyone’s eyes to how things will go in the future.
❗️NEW EPISODE ALERT❗️: ESD was a bad look for FSU from an optics standpoint. Discussing how they can use today as a lesson to get back to relevance. A different approach to WR recruiting. Importance of signing AJ Duffy. etc. I appreciate your time 🍢 https://t.co/AimekkoJcm
— Built For Playmakers Podcast (@Built4Playmaker) December 16, 2021
There’s only so much FSU can do when it comes to raising funds from Boosters, and they need to form relationships with big-time businesses. It’s a free-for-all open market with college football players to the highest bidder. It’s always been that way, but now it’s more apparent with coaches like Lane Kiffin openly talking about it:
Lane Kiffin flat-out said "kids want to go where they can get paid the most." pic.twitter.com/0T1chc93MS
— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) December 14, 2021
FSU missing on Hunter isn’t the end of the world, and it looks bad from an optics point of view. However, this is an experience FSU administration can either learn from or continue to get burned.