Akeem Dent on NIL affecting decision: It's a safety valve

Florida State cornerback Akeem Dent made a big decision this week, deciding to forgo the 2023 NFL Draft and return to Tallahassee for another year under Mike Norvell. Dent expressed love for the university and his team, and that it didn’t feel quite right leaving on this note. But Dent was also asked about the impact for Name, Image, and Likeness in his decision to come back, and how potentially helpful NIL makes the choice for himself and others in the same position.

“It helps knowing it’s like a little safety burden, just in case if you do gotta come back another round. It’s just that safety valve for you, like yeah I can go again and do this again,” Dent said.

NIL does surely change things for student-athletes that are deciding to take their talents to the next level, giving them the ability to weigh out their options financially between staying in college or go pro. According to On3’s NIL Valuation Dent has an annual value of $50k, ranking No. 1,516 amongst all college football players and he currently has deals with Champions Collective and Garnet & Gold.

Dent had 51 tackles and four pass breakups this season from his cornerback spot for the Seminoles’ defense. Florida State fans will be pleased to see him on the field next year for the Noles, but they’ll also be able to check him out on December 29 when Florida State takes on Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

Mike Norvell discusses commitment to making best decision for each player

As conference championship and bowl season approach, so does the decision many student-athletes will have to make regarding their decision to forgo their college eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft or to stay at their respective university. Various players on Florida State‘s roster will be faced with that choice, and head coach Mike Norvell explained how he gives advice to his players during their crossroads.

“Anytime that a young man has a decision to make, I’m not gonna just throw out an opinion just to say that I have one, I want to get all the information,” Norvell said. “We’re going to go through every process and it’s a commitment I made when I was a young coach and you’re kind of coming up.”

It’s no secret that coaches deep down want all their best players and talent on their rosters for as long as they can have them, but Norvell insists that he puts those desires past him and gives his players the most honest advice and guidance for what’s best for them individually.

“All things and all advice I give is going to be what’s best for the student-athlete, sometimes that’s not always what might be best best selfishly, but wanting to make sure we help guide them for their future opportunities,” Norvell said.

The situation isn’t a new one for Norvell, but his roster this season definitely has the potential to have more players hear their names called in April compared to last year. Last season defensive end Jermaine Johnson was the only Seminole to get drafted, but this season players like Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett, Robert Scott Jr., Akeem Dent, Jammie Robinson, and others are high on many people’s prospect lists.

“We’ve had those conversations in the past and obviously, we’ll have opportunities here moving forward, but once we get all the information and be able to present that to them with the factual knowledge of what’s ahead in opportunities, then I’ll give an opinion. But it’s always gonna be a thought-out opinion rather than saying what I think would be best for me or even the university at the time,” Norvell said.