Dabo Swinney explains stance on NIL, impact on college athletics

The world of college athletics how we once knew it is gone. With players now able to capitalize on opportunities using their Name, Image, and Likeness, the entire landscape has changed. While NIL has allowed players to earn profits, it has also resulted in some negative impacts on college athletics. Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney is the latest prominent name in the industry to speak out against what NIL has done to college sports.

Swinney made it clear that he isn’t against NIL as a whole, but he is against some of the things that have come with it. He is still focused on getting players and student athletes to graduate, and believes that should be the top priority.

“I’m not against NIL at all,” Swinney said on The Players Club Podcast. “What I am against is anything that devalues education. That’s what I’m against. And I’m against the professionalization of college athletics. What does that mean? That means now we’re paying guys salaries, 18-year-olds have to pay taxes. I don’t think that’s good. I think we should keep the focus on graduation, incentivize graduation, and do everything we can to modernize and improv the scholarship in addition to these NIL opportunities.

Swinney: NIL and the transfer portal have created unsustainable processes

Clemson has been no stranger to the NIL world. The Tigers have three players from last year’s football roster to be ranked in the On3 NIL 100, which ranks players based on their On3 NIL Valuation. Those players are tight end Braden Galloway (21st, $395,000), quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (35th, $283,000), and cornerback Andrew Booth (65th, $167,000).

2022 quarterback Cade Klubnik hasn’t ever played a college snap, but he is already ranked 77th in the On3 NIL 100 with a NIL Valuation of $148,000.

In addition to the world of NIL, the transfer portal has caused serious changes to college sports, especially college football. Swinney and Clemson are well versed in the changes to come from NIL and the portal, and Swinney doesn’t believe it is sustainable with how things are currently working.

“I think it’s great. But again, with the NIL, with the transfer portal, there are some things going on that I don’t think is sustainable and I don’t think it’s good for a lot of young people,” Swinney added. “I mean, you’re talking 18, 19, 20-year-olds that shouldn’t be equipped. Again, 98 percent are not going to play in the NFL. So let’s help them maximize this for sure, but let’s don’t allow some of the craziness that’s creeping up.”