Mack Brown calls NIL out of control: 'Cheaters cheat'

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown doesn’t like how NIL is being used in recruiting. He feels strongly that there are people who are using it to cheat in recruiting by inducing recruits to come to their school.

“You’re dealing with NIL, which is completely out of control in recruiting,” Mack Brown said. “People are absolutely purchasing people in recruiting, and they’re purchasing them off your campus.”

Mack Brown didn’t mention who or what teams he thinks are violating NIL rules. However, he made it clear that he thinks it’s happening fairly regularly, though never at North Carolina.

“Our Heels4Life, which is our collective, they do it right, here. You’re not supposed to offer people money before they come to your campus. You’re not supposed to do it for play. You’re supposed to have them earn the right, through the collective and appearances to gain opportunities. That’s not happening in a lot of places, and I’m so happy in Our Heels4Life that it is happening here. We’re doing it right. We’re doing it fair.”

To emphasize his point, Mack Brown told the story of a recruit who chose another school, according to Brown at least, solely because of NIL.

“We actually had a recruit in the other day that was a transfer, and he went to another school. We thought he was coming here. He called us after he got there, 30 minutes, he said, ‘Coach, they offered me this, this, and this. So, I’m going.’ He didn’t see the campus. He just got off the plane.”

NIL is not supposed to be used as an incitement for a player to come to a school. However, many coaches argue that it is used this way. In particular, when coupled with the one-time transfer rule, there are those that use NIL to tamper.

“So, I hate it, but cheaters cheat and that’s the way it is out there,” Mack Brown emphasized. “And they are actually just purchasing kids, which I hate, and there is some that are saying now that a lot of the promises that are being made aren’t being fulfilled.”

Mack Brown then finished his statement by predicting legal issues relating to NIL and tampering in particular. He also called on the NCAA, which has a new president in Governor Charlie Baker, to address these issues.

“So, we’re gonna see lawsuits and we’re gonna have guys that don’t get what they wanted, or they didn’t play well enough, they’re not gonna pay them what they said they were gonna pay them. But, the NCAA needs to look very closely at tampering and that people who are paying guys up front and not going through the collective and doing it the proper way because it is completely out of control.”

Mack Brown on tampering with Drake Maye

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye has already said he isn’t going anywhere. However, according to Mack Brown, that wasn’t for a lack of trying. Again, he refused to say names, instead saying that you can figure out who is tampering with their success in recruiting.

“I can’t say that,” Mack Brown said. “And don’t ask Drake. He’s a young guy and that’s uncomfortable for him. You know who they are. Looking at all the ones that are getting the top recruits. They’re the ones paying all the top money. So, you can figure that out. Take two of those 10 and you’re right. You got it. And probably more than the two that I know of.”

Pat Narduzzi says that teams are going after Drake Maye

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi says that there has been tampering related to Drake Maye. In fact, he says that Maye was offered as much as $5 million to transfer.

“Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi says on (937 The Fan) that he’s heard 2 schools offered UNC QB Drake Maye $5 million to transfer,” Andrew Fillipponi tweeted. “Won’t say who. But he knows who. Wow. Says it’s gotten out of control and it’s only going to get worse. Quote: ‘It’s a sad, sad deal.'”