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The USC Trojans have been one of the most successful teams in the new era of college football with the use of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. In June, there was another shift with NIL, as the House vs. NCAA settlement allowed programs to pay their athletes directly.

With NIL, athletes can earn a significant amount, causing some players to stay in college longer or enter the NCAA Transfer Portal due to financial disputes. USC Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey revealed his mindset on the new era of NIL deals in college athletics.

While Ramsey is excited for the chance for college athletes to be paid, he explained in an interview with On3 that his goals have not changed. Ramsey still has his sights set on a career in the NFL.

“For me, it’s just keep the main thing the main thing,” Ramsey told On3. “My goals – and I’ve had the same goals since before NIL was a thing. And that was to get to the NFL. NIL is like just a little wrinkle that was made into college football. But for me, it didn’t really change anything as far as my work ethic or how I approach football and school.”

“It’s good that players are getting paid just because they haven’t been getting paid for a while.”

Ramsey transferred to the USC Trojans ahead of the 2024 season, initially spending two years with the UCLA Bruins. He made an instant impact on the team, totaling 60 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, two sacks, five passes defended, and an interception in 11 games last season. 

Ramsey is already generating NFL Draft buzz and could enter the draft after this season. If Ramsey has another strong season, there is a high possibility he will declare for the draft instead of foregoing another year for NIL purposes.

MORE: USC Trojans’ Lincoln Riley Sees Change in Quarterback Jayden Maiava

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MORE: Which USC Trojans Freshman Will Stand Out Most in Fall Camp?

“It’s good for college football. But at the same time, you want to keep the main thing the main thing. Keeping the team first and just keeping your goals the goal,” Ramsey continued. “My goal, and I’m sure it’s the team goal, is to win. That’s what we’re just focused on. We’re not really just focused on NIL and the rev-sharing. But you’ve got to be educated because that’s a part of college football now.”

The goal for Ramsey is not just to move on to the NFL, but to win a national championship with the USC Trojans. Since the addition of NIL, USC coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans have been one of the most successful teams as seen through recruiting. 

One of the most critical moves that the Trojans have made since the conclusion of the 2024 season was hiring general manager Chad Bowden. He has helped USC navigate the new world of NIL and is helping the players stay informed.

“Chad’s been great for us,” Ramsey said. “He’s a great person. When we were in summer training, he’s up at 6 a.m., watching our team, runs with us. He didn’t have to be there, but he chose to be there and support us and be right there with us.”

“He’s been keeping us educated on the new rules and different things like that. He’s been a great help, and I’m glad he’s a part of our program,” Ramsey said.

In battles for the nation’s top recruits, winning bidding wars is one of the reasons USC has the No. 1 recruiting class of 2026 in the nation. With the team USC is building, the Trojans have the players to compete for a national championship each year. No matter where things go with the future of NIL, winning a national championship remains the goal.

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Seth Rollins returned at WWE SummerSlam and cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase, completing a storyline direction that was launched several weeks ago.

On the July 12 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Rollins feigned a knee injury during his match with LA Knight, with the match playing out as though an audible was called as Knight hit the BFT and pinned Rollins.

Two days prior, I had been informed of an angle that was being planned on the show involving Rollins. Further, it was specifically stated that it would see Rollins placed “on crutches” leading into SummerSlam and eliminate the expectation for a cash-in.

There was a great degree of confusion as this was kept close to the vest to maximize the surprise of Rollins’ return.

In checking in throughout the past three weeks, I was never informed that the plan had changed or that the company had wavered to execute the cash-in at SummerSlam.

During the three weeks, Rollins appeared on crutches backstage at the Evolution show on July 13 and provided an update on The Rich Eisen Show that week. During that appearance, he said the swelling wouldn’t allow for an MRI, but Rollins suspected he would be out for a long time.  

Gunther and CM Punk had a 30-minute match, ending after Gunther bled in the closing minutes. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett alluded to a possible “broken nose,” and the reason is that Gunther is supposed to be having sinus surgery imminently.

After Punk sold for most of the match, he struck the bloodied Gunther with the GTS twice to win the title and set the stage for Rollins’ cash-in and title win.

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The first time Fred Salanoa left the helm as head football coach at Radford, the possibility of an eventual return was always there.

He guided Radford to the Division II state championship in 2016, then stepped away to stay close as his three daughters embarked on their prep soccer careers.

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The former Radford and Eastern Washington quarterback returned in 2019, rebuilding a winless program back to competitiveness.

Salanoa stepped down after the 2024 season, closing with a career mark of 90-77 (.539 ). Radford kept the decision in house, went through the rigors of the hiring process and selected assistant coach Mason Manuma as head coach in January.

“We have a culture that is very different because of our military population. I don’t think there’s anything comparable, ” Salanoa said, noting that the student enrollment is 68 % military in origin.

Salanoa is now in a new position as assistant athletic director under longtime AD Kelly Sur.

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This keeps the legacy of Radford athletics and football alive. Salanoa followed in the footsteps of John Velasco and Robert Stevens. Manuma will now follow the path taken by his uncle, Salanoa. He embraces the tradition of leadership as a Ram.

“Pressure is a privilege. Radford has a rich tradition athletically stemming back to Mr. Velasco and (basketball ) Coach (James ) Alegre. I’m excited for the challenge to uphold that trickled down with Coach Fred and Coach Sur, ” Manuma said. “I’m just excited to have my opportunity to add to that (trophy ) hallway in the gym.”

Salanoa’s three daughters are playing college soccer at three universities in different states this fall. He will have the freedom to visit them with his wife, Radford vice principal Malevine Salanoa.

“For me to be able to support our daughters in real time, I would have to leave the football team I’m in charge of, ” Salanoa said. “There’s a point and time we’ve got to make the best of our time with our family. We have to make sure that we keep our loved ones as close as possible, that they get love from us parents.”

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Manuma played for the Rams and still remembers his last game on the field vividly. He suffered a fractured femur in Radford’s OIA D-II title game against Nanakuli in 2013.

“I got hurt on the second play from scrimmage. It was trips right, key 3. I was the No. 3 receiver, ran a bubble screen. Take it up the sideline, got the first down, tried to spin out of a tackle and my leg got caught, ” he recalled.

Manuma played at Snow Community College (Utah ), then returned home and went to work in the entertainment industry. In 2019 his uncle called his number.

“It was at an event, he asked me to come watch a 7-on-7 scrimmage during the summer. I gave him my notes for the offense, and my uncle Thor (Salanoa ) asked me for notes on the DBs, ” Manuma recalled. “I’ve been an educational assistant here at Radford since then.”

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Now 30, Manuma is in the process of getting his degree in education and plans to become a world history teacher.

“I’ve had great tutelage from Coach Fred, as well as Coach Kelly Sur and my old coach, Lon Passos, and a lot of my former coaches still on staff here. I had great mentorship from them seeing behind the scenes the past couple of years.”

Extra points : The weekend was chock full of scrimmages across Oahu. On Friday, Aiea, Campbell and Kamehameha met in a tri-scrimmage at Kunuiakea Stadium. Both sides of the field were occupied with action. Aiea’s freshman quarterback Caizel Jesus Kapisi was impressive in his debut, playing with good instincts for second-year head coach Mika Liilii. He resembled a younger version of Damien’s 6-foot-2, 240-pound QB, AJ Tuifua.

Host Kamehameha was solid all around with left tackle Malakai Lee, the state’s most recruited offensive lineman who has committed to Michigan, setting the bar.