WATCH: Jimbo Fisher jokes about NIL deals existing before now

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher joked while appearing on the Paul Finebaum Show that NIL deals have existed since before the rules made it legal. The existence of NIL rules during this college season’s recruiting and transfer rush have been the subject of criticism as fans feel money can sway player decisions.

"There's always been NIL stuff going on, it just wasn't legal."

-Jimbo Fisher on recruiting in the new NIL era pic.twitter.com/ZE7qqweUIY

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) December 15, 2021

Jimbo Fisher on NIL deals

“Now, you can’t promise things. You can’t say, ‘I’m going to get you a NIL deal,’ that’s illegal,” Fisher explained on the Paul Finebaum Show. “All you can do is present what other players in your university have done in the past, that’s all you’re allowed to do.

“But I mean, it’s like — there were a lot of NIL deals going on before all this was going on. They just weren’t legal and no one told nobody. [Laughs] –Now we’ve never been apart of it, but at the same time, that’s where you’re at in today’s time. At least it’s out there, and it is legal and the guys can get compensated.

“It’s enticing in recruiting, I think it’s very dangerous in that way. But you’ve got to enforce the rules when they’re broken and you’ve got to handle that part of it. I think if you’re in a state and how they modify it or do in the future, whatever they do, it’s part of what we do just like the transfer portal is.”

Fisher’s opinion on the NIL rules affecting recruiting aren’t particularly different than most of the high profile coaches around the nation. What is notable is his energetic approach to the challenge it presents and opportunity it affords his program.

As recruits around the nation declare for their schools early and countless athletes enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas A&M has become one of the premier schools in recruiting rankings. On3’s Consensus top-25 rankings for schools’ recruiting classes lists the Aggies as No. 1 in the nation.

A win over Alabama during the season certainly might have helped, but there’s no question that Texas A&M has become a high value program to incoming freshmen. In fact, the Aggies are one of only three SEC schools in the top 10 of On3’s Consensus rankings as of Wednesday, ahead of Alabama and Georgia. Of course, while they’re the only SEC representation in the top 10, all three schools ranked No. 1 through No. 3.