Shane Beamer addresses the changing climate around NIL

Times are changing in the college football recruiting landscape. Coaches have to cater to kids wishes on and off the fields in terms of their school being able to provide them with the marketability for name, image and likeness opportunities via notoriety on the field. It’s a learning process for both parties, as South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has found out.

“It is certainly changing, and a lot more on the minds of the young men that we recruit now compared to last year at this time,” Beamer said. “So, we’re not going to bury our head in the sand and pretend like it’s not an aspect that young men are looking at, I mean, they’re bringing it up to us in conversations.”

While the primary factor in the past was for kids to lean toward committing to programs that could help put them in the league based on reputation or personal preference alone — one of, if not the biggest aspect recruits are looking at are the college town’s NIL market.

“We tell them like we tell every prospect that I believe that at the University of South Carolina is as well situated as any program out there for them to be able to capitalize on opportunities because of this fan base, because we’re the capital of South Carolina, because we don’t compete with other pro sports, because in this state, we’re in the SEC, on and on and on and on and on,” Beamer said.

That means the ‘South Carolin’a drenched in garnet and black across the chest of the Beamer’s athletes holds more weight than ever, which is attracting some of the top recruits and transfers in the country.

“And we certainly can’t arrange things, arranged deals and things like that as well, but we’re certainly trying to make our young men that we’re recruiting aware of the possibilities that are here, and what some of our guys have done, and what may be coming,” Beamer said.

If one thing is certain, it’s the fact that Beamer is trying to stay ahead of the curve while not lying to any of his potential recruits. He wants his kids to succeed on the field, which now directly affects their financial success.

“[We are] constantly trying to stay one step ahead and put our guys in the best position to be able to capitalize on opportunities while they’re here in college,” Beamer said.