NIL was factor on signing day; how big of one up for debate

The three-day signing period last week put name, image and likeness in the spotlight, especially with no .1 national recruit Travis Hunter de-committing from Florida State to sign with second-tier Jackson State.

Neither Hunter nor other top recruits said whether NIL compensation had anything to do with their school choices. But coaches say NIL came up in the recruiting cycle, the first since the NCAA cleared the way July 1 for college athletes to cash in on their celebrity.

“It’s very much discussed and talked about, not necessarily in inducements or anything like that or quid pro quo,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “You’ve got to educate (recruits) on what the opportunities could potentially be or what you’re going to do to help somebody increase their personal brands and how are you going to educate them on what their opportunities of nil could be and would be, should they choose the University of Missouri.”

The options to be paid for endorsements and personal branding probably was a major factor in the decisions of some recruits who signed letters of intent last week. Athliance CEO Peter Schoenthal, whose company works with schools and athletes on nil details, said he doubts it was an overriding one for most.

“I think I would be naïve to say it didn’t play a role at all,” Schoenthal said. “I think I would be over-speaking if I said it was the end all, be all of kids’ decisions. I think it was a factor. I think it was a bigger factor than it’ s going to be in the future, once we’re able to show the kids the data.”

Schoenthal predicted the breadth of a school’s NIL programming — ranging from educating athletes on NIL to boosters and businesses offering opportunities — eventually will become just another thing recruits consider.