How many UT football players in the past, in any one season, had their names or image on merchandise? Two? Only a tiny number of Manning-like star players and nobody else, so 95 percent of the players weren't being cheated out of anything. And they had their full, four-year academic scholarships. Those few like Manning who did have their NIL on merch should have gotten a cut of the money, I agree, but as I say, we're talking about a tiny number of student athletes total--and they only had their NIL on merch, I believe, AFTER they'd accomplished something on the football field, not before.
So I have two problems with this NIL setup: First, a lot of the players who are now getting NIL money will NOT have their NIL on merch at all. So they're just being paid under the /guise/ of NIL. Maybe they'll make a token promo appearance or two--but essentially their getting money for signing. Second, many of the prospects who are getting NIL money won't even pan out. Many four/five star players turn out to be busts. On average half of the top 100 prospects every year do /not/ become top college players. So you're just giving them money before they've done anything. These NIL situation is effectively turning a lot of these kids into the athletic equivalent of the Kardashians. "I haven't really done anything, but I'm rich!" And I imagine that merch sellers will want to be careful with their investments given how many top QB prospects like Nico and others transfer after a year or two. It's a large number. How many businessmen have lost money already producing merch for top QB prospects who transferred quickly? Meantime, I'll take a can of those salted "Nico" peanuts, please!
