ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit isn't a big fan of the NIL deal that 2023 Tennessee Vols commit Nico Iamaleava allegedly received earlier this year prior to his commitment to UT.

Herbstreit, a long-time ESPN analyst who approaches telecasts with a "get off my lawn" vibe, spoke to the LA Times recently about the major changes college football has seen in recent years.

And NIL deals, unsurprisingly, were a big topic of conversation between Herbstreit and the interviewer.

“It’s terrible for the sport," said Herbstreit of NIL deals. "It puts these coaches in weird spots."

I don’t like what it’s started out with the recruiting … I went to this school and got offered this, next week I’m gonna go to that school and get offered this," added Herbstreit. "That is a bunch of bull—.”

Herbstreit then mentioned Iamaleava and the $8 NIL deal that many folks believe the five-star quarterback is receiving to play at Tennessee.

“How can an adult with a good conscience say this is awesome for the sport?” said Herbstreit. “What’s going to happen when the kid from [Warren], as an example? Hopefully he’s a great player. But, with the reports about [him receiving] three years, $8 million, what if he doesn’t? What if he struggles? What happens then? I mean, that’s gonna happen eventually. How those guys in Knoxville gonna feel about that? How’s it gonna go over in a locker room, you know?”

What Herbstreit doesn't want to acknowledge is that players have been getting paid to commit to a school for decades. Big money deals for recruits didn't just start last summer when NIL deals became legal. It's just mostly public now.

Herbstreit, meanwhile, doesn't seem to have a problem making millions of dollars annually to talk about college football (he's also making millions calling Thursday night NFL games for Amazon this season).

And I have zero issues with that. Herbstreit created a market for himself and now he's getting paid handsomely to talk about football. He deserves to be able to do that.

But at the same time, so do college athletes. They've created a market for themselves. And whether it's via an endorsement or a program that wants a recruit to come play for them, those players deserve to be able to reap the benefits of their market.

Herbstreit is a traditionalist. I get it. But it seems hypocritical for Herbstreit to tell players how they can earn money and when they earn money while he is earning millions because a network wants him to work for them.

People don't like to hear it, but college football is a job. The sooner Herbtreit learns that, the sooner he can accept college football's new reality.

Featured image via Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK