2024 quarterback Myles Jackson talks Champs Sports NIL deal, recruitment

Myles Jackson has been focused on his Long Beach (California) Millikan team this fall. The Class of 2024 quarterback has offers from a variety of Power Five schools. A strong season will give him the opportunity to have his pick come decision time.

He’s also getting a head start on building his NIL brand. The three-star recruit per the On3 Consensus, announced Wednesday he’s hired JTM Sports to serve as representation. California is one of 19 states in the nation that allows high schoolers to monetize their Name, Image and Likeness. Jackson is aware he’s only going to be a touted college quarterback recruit once in his life.

There’s a timeline of when he can actually turn his on-field performance into cash. He’s not going to pass up the opportunity.

Earlier this week, he officially signed his first NIL deal. Jackson is promoting the new Champs Sports apparel collection, Legends. The activewear brand produces T-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts and pants with a lightweight fabric. The junior joins the likes of NFL players Baker Mayfield and Aidan Hutchinson, who have also promoted the collection.

“It’s super awesome,” Jackson told On3 on signing his first deal. “Getting into the NIL space, you don’t really know what’s gonna happen especially when you haven’t had any deals before. So to get my first deal was huge. It’s a step in the right direction. It’s with a brand, Champs, that I really like.”

While it is his first opportunity in the world of NIL, the quarterback had to help piece the deal together. Jackson hired his own cameraman to help film a video for Champs, which is set to drop on Instagram later this week.

“I had my own camera guy come out and film,” Jackson said. “I kind of directed, in a way. Told him how I wanted it to look, how I wanted it to feel. And then just took some pictures in the gear. Some stills showing off what the gear looks like with the video.”

Role of NIL in recruiting, high school football

Myles Jackson is the first member of his high school team to sign a NIL deal. Jackson is also quick to point out that his two wide receivers, four-stars Jordan Anderson and Ryan Pellum, could easily be looking at NIL opportunities in the near future.

Living in California allows him to cash in now on his NIL, as opposed to places like Georgia, Florida and Texas. That trio of states currently do not allow high schoolers to turn a profit.

“Kids around the country should get the same NIL opportunities,” Jackson said. “I think — just equal opportunities for all the kids that are out there working as hard as all of us should get the same level of recognition. I feel like they should reap the same benefits.”

With offers from Oregon, Washington, Jackson State, Texas A&M and Kentucky, among others, the 2024 quarterback is being courted by some of the country’s best. Academics are going to play a major role in his college commitment; he’s seriously considering heading to the Ivies.

He is not naive, however, to the climate NIL has created around recruiting. Jackson plays his high school football in one of the most talent-rich areas of the country. And he’s heard all the stories about NIL cash being exchanged in return for commitments.

Jackson sees NIL reaching a breaking point of sorts.

“I don’t know, necessarily, that it grows out of control,” he said. “I think that once as things progress, people are going to try to break and bend the rules. I’m sure they’ll crack down on things. I feel like maybe the 23 and 24 classes are kind of the experimental group. I feel like there are going to be a lot of guys getting probably too much on these NIL deals. Probably some guys are getting too little.”

Where Myles Jackson’s recruitment is headed?

Through nine games this fall, the quarterback has thrown for more than 2,600 yards along with 36 touchdown passes. He’s hoping his performance this season will help him land on the radar of a few more schools, something he saw happen last winter.

For a junior in high school, Jackson is keenly aware of what life may look like after football. He’s not ready to release a top schools list yet, but a variety of schools are going to get a hard look.

“Academics is huge for me,” he said. “Life is bigger than football. Football is kind of my life, but I know average NFL expectancy, all that kind of stuff. You have to take all those things into account. I really value education, but I also want to play some big-time football. So, I’ll definitely have to make that decision.”

A top-400 player in his class per the On3 Consensus, he is a top-30 prospect out of the state of California. As far as a decision, he’s going to take it slow. He has taken unofficial visits to Oregon and Washington this month. He will be at Jackson State this weekend. But Jackson has already started to identify when he wants to have his mind made up.

“I’m really taking things slow, exploring all my options,” he said. “I’m looking to make a decision in the spring, so kind of narrowing it down. I definitely want to visit some more schools before I make my decision. But yeah, I feel like it is getting a little closer to the time. I’m just taking it slow for now.”