Suggesting Jeremiah Smith or Quinn Ewers transfer for NIL money shows how broken college football has become
Here’s the latest example of how college football is broken: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is being advised to transfer simply for the purposes of cashing an NIL check. The Buckeyes’ star receiver has five days after Monday’s national championship game to put his name in the transfer portal. Sure, he would gather instant attention from […]
Here’s the latest example of how college football is broken: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is being advised to transfer simply for the purposes of cashing an NIL check.
The Buckeyes’ star receiver has five days after Monday’s national championship game to put his name in the transfer portal. Sure, he would gather instant attention from everyone, including Texas, and easily command $1 million and up for his talents.
For someone like Smith, the bidding probably starts at $2 million.
Still, USA Today columnist Matt Hayes suggested that Smith should forget loyalty to Ohio State and test his true market value.
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“More to the point: with the NFL still two years away for Smith, why risk a potential career-defining injury without earning as much as you possibly can?,” Hayes mused. “This isn't about staying true to your school. It's about financial security in a physically-demanding business, where the end is always one play away.”
After the national title win over Notre Dame, Smith reportedly said, “I’ve got two, three years left of college. I’m just focused on college right now.”
Can you imagine what these players are hearing nowadays? Agents, runners, whoever, are slipping into everyone’s DMs telling the players, “I can get you paid.” They won’t tell you about the reported 20% cut some of these agents are demanding. Or how when you even get to the new school, the payout isn’t likely to be as high as perceived.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was reportedly offered around $6 million if he would transfer after the season. Ewers was always dead-set on going pro, even though he’s a likely third-round draft pick. One report said Ewers was offered $8 million to transfer.
None of this was ever confirmed, and that’s the point. It’s a lot of hot air, to a large degree. Many players aren’t hip to the game just yet. Some of the smarter coaches are, and that’s why they’re leaving the game. See Nick Saban as Example A.
This is where the game is now. Transfer and get paid. For most, they’re being convinced to give up the golden goose, because most rarely ever transfer to some place better. It’s usually a step down.
But hey, they got paid, right? Right?
