Elite 2024 recruits weigh in on Jaden Rashada saga, importance of NIL in recruitment

For many, the story of Jaden Rashada exemplifies what the other side of NIL looks like. 

Rashada, a highly touted quarterback from Pittsburg, Calif., was offered $13.85 million to play for Florida. After a missed payment, the Gator Collective eventually sent a letter terminating the contract. Rashada opted to stay on path to enrollment in Gainesville, until ultimately requesting a release from his National Letter of Intent. 

The amount offered to Rashada was stunning. In the NIL collective realm, operators are putting safeguards in place to make sure they are not the next example. But what do some of the top-ranked 2024 prospects think? They are now going through the recruitment process, navigating the aftershocks of the defining story of NIL’s first 20 months. 

“Wow. I think everyone’s just got the same reaction: ‘Wow,’ ” a 2024 quarterback told On3. “That’s insane. That’s generational wealth.”

Others are trying to learn from it. Rashada has since signed and is set to enroll at Arizona State, thanks to a previous relationship with new Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham.  

“You research into things like that and learn from it,” another 2024 quarterback said. “All you can do is learn from it and not do the things he did. Don’t try to burn bridges with college coaches, just know how to use things and know when to do certain things at certain times.”

There is anger, too. In the NIL era, plenty of athletes can relate to Rashada’s situation. Coaches and NIL collectives promise financial incentives that never surface. It’s forcing recruits to educate themselves on their NIL value.

“I think it’s kind of childish to offer a kid that much money and then when he gets there, it’s nowhere to be found,” a blue-chip running back prospect said. “As a recruit, I don’t think that’s something anyone should fall for. Just go create your own value; you just can’t be offered an amount of money and say that’s what I want. You have to look at it in the long run also.”

NIL is ‘ignorant not to take advantage of’

The 2023 recruitment cycle appears to have made an impact on how prospects now view name, image and likeness, too. Coaches have spoken publicly about how talking NIL can be a turn off in situations. They also talk among themselves about what athletes are claiming they’ve been offered. 

“We had a sibling of a recruit who was claiming that the recruit was receiving $40K, $50K and $80K from other schools in an attempt to get us to ‘counter’ the kid,” an AAC recruiting staffer told On3 in November. “In reality, we found out that the offers were nonexistent.”

Recruits are trying to walk that fine line. 

“I don’t want to be one of the guys out here creating bidding wars between schools,” a quarterback recruit said. “Like ‘this school’s giving me this, this school is giving me this.’ Just trying to not bring up, keep it on the low. If someone wants to talk about it, talk about it. It’s also something – it’s ignorant not to take advantage of. It’s honestly really complicated.”

How NIL is impacting 2024 recruitment process 

This past summer, On3 surveyed 85 of the players ranked in the top 200 of the nation. Among the questions was the impact of NIL on their college decision. On a scale from 1 to 10 – with 10 being the highest – 22.9% of the prospects said NIL ranked right in the middle, at 5. All in all, 57% of the recruits said NIL ranked as a 5 or higher in their decision.

Those results appear to still be accurate. While the Rashada fallout has left prospects to question any deal on the table, those incentives have to be looked at. In some instances, it means finding out how much the current players on the roster are bringing in. 

“It’s something that this era has seen a lot,” one of the 2024 quarterbacks said. “Of course it has its ups and downs, its pros and cons. At the end of the day you have to play football. But NIL, it’s something us athletes have to look into. I think NIL plays a big role in certain parts. At the end of the day, it’s up to the kid to determine if NIL is more important than playing the game. 

“It’s very important, not going to sit up here and tell you it’s not. It’s very important.”

For a blue-chip receiver in the 2024 class, reaching the next level is the top priority. To him, the most important element is which school offers the best path to development and the NFL, not the most lucrative deal.  

“I’m like you shouldn’t rely on an NIL deal. You should really be looking towards the school and how they prepare you for the next level,” he said. “I’m leaning towards how the coaches can develop me as a player.”

NIL’s impact in recruiting can depend on the school. A highly touted defensive end in the 2024 class said NIL takes up about “50 or 40 percent” of his recruitment. He’s heard stories about an Ole Miss running back driving around a new Mercedes-Benz. 

“Honestly, it depends on the school,” he said. “Tennessee is a really good school. I don’t look for any money going to Tennessee because I love the relationship with them. Georgia, I honestly see no money going to Georgia because they have a great school; they’re back-to-back champions. Same with Alabama.” 

Recruits leaning on parents to sort through NIL

Nearly every recruit On3 spoke with said they were consulting with their parents about NIL throughout the recruitment process. Coaches of 7-on-7 teams also are confidants, along with current and former college players. 

“My parents, for sure,” a prospect said. “I’m really blessed. They’re educated, they’re smart. They understand all that kind of stuff.”

NFL players are represented by agents who broker contracts on their behalf. In the college ranks, a small number of highly touted athletes have a representative with experience. 

“I would say my trainer; he went to Alabama,” the defensive end said. “He tells me about how all these NIL deals work. He talked to my mom about it.”

The defensive end added he has been told he could make between $50,000 to $100,000 based on where he commits.