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OKLAHOMA CITY – Graduate student cornerback Tank Pearson and redshirt sophomore safety DJ Walker were named on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association today (July 30). 

This list includes 35 of the nation’s best defensive backs, representing nine conferences and one independent university. The preseason watch list is selected by a screening committee whose members compile a list of up to 50 players based on previous performance in NCAA Division I college football and preseason All-America lists. This list is not final, and players who have outstanding seasons may be added to the semifinalists and finalists lists as the season progresses.

Pearson (Oxford, Miss) started in 13 games for the Bobcats, finishing the season with 51 tackles, highlighted by 33 solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss. He recorded a season-high eight tackles during the 2024 StaffDNA Cure Bowl against Jacksonville State. Pearson recorded a team-best four interceptions, two of which he snagged against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 13), and was also credited with six pass breakups. Often seen on kickoffs, Pearson recorded 196 yards, averaging 19.6 yards per return.  

Walker (Aliquippa, Pa.) was a staple in the 2024 defense, starting in all 14 games. He amassed 53 total tackles, including 34 solo stops and seven tackles for loss. Walker logged the second-most pass breakups (7) and recorded his first collegiate interception against Akron (Sept. 28, 2024). Following the regular season, Walker was named All-MAC Second Team.

2025 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List

Xavion Alford, Safety, Arizona State, Sr.

Ty Benefield, Safety, Boise State, Jr.

KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia, So.

Bud Clark, Safety, TCU, Sr.

Jeremiah Cooper, Safety, Iowa State, Sr.

Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State, Jr. 

Daylen Everette, Cornerback, Georgia, Sr.

David Fisher, Cornerback, North Texas, Sr.

Chance Gamble, Cornerback, Georgia Southern, Sr.

Brylan Green, Safety, Liberty, Sr.

Tyler Hallum, Cornerback, Kennesaw State, Sr.

Al’zillion Hamilton, Cornerback, Fresno State, Sr.

Davison Igbinosun, Cornerback, Ohio State, Sr.

Casey Larkin, Safety, Army, Sr.

A’Marion McCoy, Cornerback, Boise State, Sr.

Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee, Jr.

Leonard Moore, Cornerback, Notre Dame, So.

Terry Moore, Safety, Duke, Sr.

Malik Muhammad, Cornerback, Texas, Jr. 

Isaiah Nwokobia, Safety, SMU, Sr. 

Tank Pearson, Cornerback, Ohio, Gr. Sr. 

Koi Perich, Safety, Minnesota, So.

D’Angelo Ponds, Cornerback, Indiana, Jr.

Chandler Rivers, Cornerback, Duke, Sr. 

De’Shawn Rucker, Cornerback, South Florida, Sr. 

Xavier Scott, Cornerback, Illinois, Sr.

Tyree Skipper, Safety, Louisiana, Sr. 

Avery Smith, Cornerback, Toledo, Sr. 

Michael Taaffe, Safety, Texas, Sr. 

Avieon Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson, Jr.  

Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon, Jr.

Jacob Thomas, Safety, James Madison, Sr. 

DJ Walker, Safety, Ohio, So.

JeRico Washington Jr., Cornerback, Kennesaw State, So.

Jontez Williams, Cornerback, Iowa State, Jr.

By Conference

AAC (3), ACC (4), Big 12 (4), Big Ten (6), CUSA (3), Independent (1), MAC (3), MW (3), SEC (5), Sun Belt (3)

The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 950 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

 

The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards at 7 p.m. ET. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.

 

The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.

 

For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visit www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org.

Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) (“Paycom”), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”

 

#OUohyeah 

 

 

CORAL GABLES — When Miami basketball coach Jim Larrañaga announced his retirement last December, he cited a moment after the team reached its first-ever Final Four when eight players told him they planned to enter the transfer portal so they could make more money.

Larrañaga said it “shocked (him) beyond belief.”

“I said, ‘Don’t you like it here?’” Larrañaga said. “(They said), ‘No, I love it. I love Miami. It’s great.’ But the opportunity to make money someplace else created a situation that you have to begin to ask yourself, as a coach, what is this all about? And the answer is it’s become professional.”

Since Larrañaga stepped down and UM brought in Jai Lucas to replace him, college sports have only become more professionalized. As of July 1, colleges can pay athletes directly for the first time under the rules of the House vs. NCAA settlement. Schools are currently capped at $20.5 million to pay athletes in all of their sports programs.

Miami, like most other Division I programs, will likely allocate most of that money to football. In a letter to fans on July 1, UM athletic director Dan Radakovich said Miami’s football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, women’s tennis and women’s track and field programs will all get a cut of the revenue-sharing money. He did not say how the money will be divided.

“The last five to 10 years have been a big learning curve for every coach every year,” Hurricanes women’s basketball coach Tricia Cullop said Wednesday. “So you feel like every year you’ve got new little elements that you’re throwing into your job that you’ve got to learn on the fly. And so I think if you look at — a lot of professions are like this — but we’ve had to be very flexible and learn how to adapt quickly in order to use it as our advantage.

“The one thing I love about Miami is that we care. We care about our sports, and so Dan and (Deputy AD Rachelle Paul), my two administrators, are working hard to make sure that we have what we need in order to recruit.”

Cullop said revenue-sharing money comes up on the recruiting trail “constantly.”

“I’ll be honest, I checked the news more probably in the past year than I ever have about this, and tried to talk to a lot of colleagues about what’s happening,” Cullop said. “Because, obviously, there’s different interpretations across the country sometimes. And so we have discussions with our administration about what we’re hearing, and then they clear it up for us when we get back.”

The latest changes came last week when the new College Sports Commission and the plaintiffs’ lawyers in the House settlement came to an agreement on how to handle NIL deals from schools’ collectives. Money from NIL deals is not part of the revenue-sharing cap, and originally, there were going to be strict rules separating collectives’ NIL deals from other companies’ NIL deals in order to prevent collectives from giving out pay-for-play contracts.

Now collectives are again free to offer players NIL deals.

“It’s all still kind of fluid and just kind of figuring out initially on the front end, you were able to do some of the collective stuff and a little bit more of that,” new Hurricanes men’s basketball coach Jai Lucas said Wednesday. “But moving forward, it’s just all up to the NCAA and the NILgo (platform for approving NIL deals) and what they claim passes or not. … So it all depends on that, but we’ll kind of operate as normal.”

Lucas, who has been constructing his first roster at UM, said he and his staff will have to adjust to the new realities of college sports, but if faced with situations where players only want to play for the Hurricanes for the money, that might be a player he is OK with letting go.

“Nowadays you have agents, and agents are the main factors in college basketball right now,” Lucas said. “So the kid might not say something, but after the meeting, you’re going to get a call, and that’s just … where we are. So we have to deal with it. We have to adapt to it, and we’ve got to figure out how can we be the best.

“Part of what I was saying is how can we build strong enough relationships and show (players) how important their development is to us where there is some type of connection to us and the program, instead of to just a financial situation. If it’s just a financial situation, then most of the time it’s not going to be kids we want in the program.”

Originally Published: July 30, 2025 at 10:11 AM EDT

No position in college football has gained more value over the past five years than general manager. From booming salaries that now reach into seven figures to former NFL GMs and head coaches joining the ranks — and even celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal taking on honorary roles — the position has grown significantly in attention, stature and staffing.

Unlike the professional ranks, where the general manager role is mostly uniform, how college programs empower GMs differs dramatically from school to school. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart recently summed up the challenge of even defining the role.

“What does a general manager do, in your mind? I think it varies from organization to organization,” Smart said. “We have people that do various things instead of pinpointing the general manager, because I think if I ask every coach what their general manager does, they all do something different. So, I mean, I can’t figure out what you define it as, because when you ask me what is a general manager, I want to know what you think it does, because in the NFL they do [it] different than what they do at all.”

That ambiguity made CBS Sports’ task of compiling a list of the top college football general managers especially challenging. The role remains relatively new, and there’s no clear consensus on what constitutes success. Some programs value recruiting expertise. Others prioritize talent evaluation and leave recruiting to the coaching staff. Some want elite organizers above all else.

In many ways, what makes a great college football GM is in the eye of the beholder. 

Still, CBS Sports spoke with a wide range of informed sources to identify the industry’s top figures. That included coaches, general managers, coaching agents, personnel executives, NIL agents and other key stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on on-field success, recruiting track record, and the strength of the relationship and trust between the GM and head coach. The list primarily includes those with the official GM title, with only a few exceptions made for individuals who perform the role under a different title.

At the top of their game 

These college football executives have been identified by their peers as the industry’s best. 

Clayton Barnes, Temple

General manager

Barnes was Temple coach K.C. Keeler’s first hire after he proved his value working as both a general manager and director of football operations and player personnel while together at Sam Houston State. The Texas A&M graduate helped assemble the 2020 FCS national championship roster and was a critical part of the program’s the transition to the FBS level the following year. Despite having the lowest revenue in Conference USA and a NIL budget in the tens of thousands, Barnes and Keeler put together a 10-3 team last season, which included a New Orleans bowl victory, before leaving for Temple.

Tyler Barnes, Iowa 

General manager, chief of staff 

An Iowa alumnus, Barnes has worn multiple hats for the Hawkeyes since starting with the organization back in 2008 as a student intern. Working alongside coach Kirk Ferentz, Barnes has built a strong reputation for recognizing what works for Iowa as a developmental program and knowing the type of players who are going to flourish under Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker. As one rival GM put it, Barnes has “done a great job of finding the exact guys who fit their program.” The Hawkeyes haven’t quite broken through to the College Football Playoff yet, but they have been a model of consistency during Barnes’ long tenure with the program.

James Blanchard, Texas Tech

General manager

Blanchard’s work made Texas Tech the talk of the offseason. He shepherded an aggressive portal approach that culminated in the nation’s No. 2 transfer class, according to 247Sports. Blanchard has the full trust of Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and the freedom to extend scholarship offers to the players he likes best. Texas Tech’s aggressive spending has elicited criticism — and probably some jealousy — but it has also made the Red Raiders as relevant as they’ve been in years. Blanchard’s name came up with everyone we talked to for this list. 

“They get a lot of hate for it but I’d be doing the same thing,” said one Big 12 GM. “If you have the money to go get people, you’re going to go do it.”  

Matt Doherty, Washington 

Senior director of player personnel 

Washington coach Jedd Fisch, who has a long NFL resume, isn’t ready to give out a GM title because it’s such a different job at the college level than what he’s accustomed to. But don’t let that confuse you on how important Doherty is to the operation. Doherty rode shotgun with Fisch on what might have been the most remarkable program turnaround of 2023 when Arizona went from 5-7 in 2022 to 10-3 with an Alamo Bowl win over Oklahoma. The Wildcats were limited in their NIL resources but hit on major successes with guys like receiver Tetairoa McMillan and quarterback Noah Fifita. The Huskies are working with a smaller budget than some of their Big Ten peers but should have an upward trajectory in Year 2 after signing the No. 23 recruiting class in 2025. 

“He did a really, really good job at Arizona and I think they’ll get that place flipped around,” said one personnel source impressed with Doherty. 

Patrick Embleton, Illinois 

General manager

You know you’re doing something right when you survive multiple coaching changes like Embleton — who has been at Illinois since 2013. At a place long considered a sleeping giant, Embleton is doing his best work paired with Bret Bielema and a team that could make the CFP this season. The Illinois GM has strong evaluation skills, knows exactly what Bielema wants in a player and has put together a hardnosed roster that isn’t particularly fun to play against. Coming off an impressive 10-3 2024 record, Illinois is on the upswing on the recruiting trail, too, and currently has the nation’s No. 27 recruiting class in 2026. 

“Not only when I was in the SEC at Arkansas but when I was at Wisconsin it was hard to win over certain teams in a recruiting battle and now we’ve got just as much of a shot as anybody,” Bielema told CBS Sports. “We got kids committed to us in the last year where I beat out the best of the best in the SEC and Big Ten. And in this year’s class committed to us, same deal. I’ve never had that.”

Andy Frank, Penn State

General manager of personnel and recruitment 

Frank has been with Penn State head coach James Franklin for all 12 years of his time in Happy Valley, helping build a program that made a CFP semifinal a year ago and is expected to compete for a national championship this season. The Nittany Lions consistently recruit well at the high school level and deserve credit for how well they succeeded in retaining top stars like running back Nicholas Singleton and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton for one more run at a title. Not one to seek praise, Frank has quietly helmed an operation that can win big recruiting battles for guys like Micah Parsons and out-evaluate others to uncover future first-round gems like tight end Tyler Warren. 

“He’s a great behind the scenes guy,” said one Big Ten GM. “He knows his strengths and weaknesses and does a great job organizing, planning and knowing their culture and the guys that fit their culture.”

Wes Fritz, Houston 

General manager 

Fritz doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves — in part, because he’s the son of Houston head coach Willie Fritz. But those in the personnel and recruiting space rave about his evaluation skills and his successful rosters at Tulane. 

“I think Tulane has very quietly been some of the best evaluators in the entire sport the last couple of years,” said one personnel source. 

Fritz arrived at a Tulane program coming off consecutive 3-9 seasons and achieved major success not only on the field (a 12-2 record in 2022 was a highlight) but also put multiple players into the NFL including running back Tyjae Spears and linebacker Dorian Williams. Given their track record, many expect the father-son duo to get Houston turned around, starting with a good incoming transfer portal group. 

Billy Glasscock, Ole Miss 

General manager 

Hired away from Texas, Glasscock plays a critical role in Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss operation. He is well organized and respected for his management of the Rebels’ recruiting and scouting operations. Kiffin credited Glasscock for putting together the Rebels’ top 15 recruiting class in 2025 — the program’s highest ranked group in close to a decade. The high school recruiting success, led by in-state receiver Caleb Cunningham, was especially noteworthy because the Rebels still had their usual success in the transfer portal. Ole Miss signed three top-35 transfers for the nation’s No. 4 transfer portal haul. 

Zach Grant, Cincinnati 

General manager 

Multiple personnel executives praised the work Grant and his Cincinnati staff have done. 

“Thet are really good in scouting and evaluating,” said one GM. 

Grant, who won Football Scoop’s Player Personnel Director of the Year in 2021 while at Western Kentucky, has developed a reputation for strong early evaluations and a good eye for talent. The bad news for Grant is bigger schools follow his lead as Cincinnati lost eight one-time commitments to other Power Four programs in 2025. That list includes four-star tight end Mikkel Skinner (Kentucky) and four-star cornerback Jahmari DeLoatch (Virginia Tech). It hasn’t quite worked out on the field for coach Scott Satterfield through his first two years (8-16) but the talent level has improved and the industry likes what Satterfield and Grant are trying to do with the roster. 

Said another GM: “(Grant’s) very well respected in this space.”

Brandon Harris, Texas 

General manager 

When you sign the nation’s top recruiting class as Brandon Harris and Texas did last season, you’re going to make this list. You’re also going to get a big raise as Texas made Harris one of the nation’s highest-paid GMs earlier this year. The former LSU and North Carolina quarterback isn’t even 30 years old yet, but has the keys to the most powerful recruiting operation in the country. It certainly helps to have a robust NIL operation, but Harris deserves credit. One Power Four GM admires the trust Harris has built with head coach Steve Sarkisian and the synergy the two have together in putting together a roster. The Longhorns are again hot on the recruiting trail for the class of 2026 and have one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects committed in Dia Bell, the son of former NBA player Raja Bell. 

Cole Heard, Tulane 

General manager 

Tulane is a Group of six school that continues to recruit more like a Power Four, which is a credit to Heard and coach Jon Sumrall. Just last week the Green Wave made national headlines for landing former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Heard, an Alabama native, has had considerable success recruiting and evaluating at Troy and Tulane with Sumrall — the Green Wave has signed back-to-back top-two portal classes in the American — and is viewed as a rising star in the industry. 

“He’s really good and he’s really trusted,” said one industry source. “I definitely think he’s going to climb the ranks.”

Said a Power 4 GM: “I think Cole does a great job. They’ve done a great job in the portal for where they are.”

Sean Magee, Michigan 

Associate AD for football and general manager 

Magee landed the coup of the 2025 recruiting class when he orchestrated the flip of No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood from LSU. He has one of the most unique backgrounds in the space as a former Navy offensive lineman, Surface Warfare Officer and former chief of staff for the Chicago Bears.

“I’m probably the only MBA who is sitting in this role,” Magee told CBS Sports last year. “I’m probably the only quantitative economics major that’s sitting in this role. I went to the Naval Academy. I’m probably the only one of those.”

NIL attorneys and agents who have worked with Magee praise his intellect and ability to navigate potentially difficult negotiations. His arrival in Ann Arbor signaled a shift in Michigan’s approach, showing a greater willingness to be aggressive in NIL efforts to land top talent such as quarterback Bryce Underwood and five-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola.

“Give Sean a lot of credit for Bryce Underwood,” said a personnel source. “There’s no freaking way you can let this guy suit up for anybody other than Michigan.”

Marshall Malchow, Oregon 

Chief of staff 

Malchow may not have the GM title but there’s no mistaking his impact behind-the-scenes for Oregon. He is coach Dan Lanning’s right-hand man and a major reason for the Ducks’ recruiting success. Since cutting his teeth in Nick Saban’s Alabama recruiting behemoth, Malchow had enjoyed success everywhere he’s been — from Washington with Chris Petersen to Georgia with Kirby Smart to Texas A&M with Jimbo Fisher and now Oregon with Lanning. The former 247Sports 30-under-30 honoree understands both the the 30,000-foot perspective and makes sure all the day-to-day tasks are fulfilled to keep the machine humming. There aren’t many, if any, people in the industry more highly respected than Malchow. 

Vince Marrow, Louisville 

Executive director of player personnel and recruiting

Marrow made major headlines when he left Kentucky for in-state rival Louisville after more than a decade of big-time recruiting success in Lexington. The move was notable not only for the major money Louisville was investing in the position — more than $1 million annually — but also that Marrow would leave an on-field role as tight ends coach and associate head coach for Louisville’s unofficial GM spot. Marrow, who played for Nick Saban at Toledo, is a brilliant recruiter known for his work in fertile recruiting areas like Ohio. Alongside Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, Marrow helped turn what was once an SEC laughingstock into a program that went to eight consecutive bowl games before the streak ended in 2024. The Wildcats also won 10 games in both 2018 and 2021. Since Marrow arrived at Louisville, the Cardinals have added five commits which include former Kentucky pledge and four-star offensive line prospect Jarvis Strickland. 

Derek Miller, Texas A&M 

General manager 

Considered one of the best talent evaluators in college football, Miller has brought success everywhere he’s been — including stops at Bowling Green and Duke — before following head coach Mike Elko to Texas A&M. Miller, 33, got his start at Bowling Green on a staff that included Elko, future Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea and recently retired Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson. He has quietly put together terrific recruiting and portal classes for the Aggies to help bolster a roster that went 8-5 last season. Miller and Elko, who have known each other for more than a decade, are obsessed with compiling NFL traits in the recruits they pursue and are on the verge of a major breakthrough. Elko recently said he believes you need 13 draftable players to win the SEC, and the Aggies are right in that neighborhood because of the work Miller and his staff have done. 

“We should get to double digit NFL draft picks this year,” Elko recently said. “That’ll be the first time Texas A&M has done that in a very long time.”

Courtney Morgan, Alabama 

General manager 

Morgan was on the private plane with Kalen DeBoer when he arrived in Tuscaloosa for the first time. That speaks to the trust and closeness of their relationship. After USC tried to hire him, Morgan made national headlines when he became, at that time, the nation’s highest-paid general manager with a three-year deal that averaged $825,000 a year. In taking over a program that Nick Saban guided to six national championships, one can expect skepticism — especially when you do things differently as Morgan and DeBoer have since arriving from Washington. The recruiting success has still been there, though, as Alabama signed the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class in 2025 which featured No. 2 overall recruit Keelon Russsell and is currently on pace to sign the No. 4 class featuring a nation’s best five five-stars. The Alabama GM has strong relationships throughout the country and earned plaudits for his work in making Washington a national title runner-up in 2023. 

“This guy has not only revolutionized the position but he’s also consistently delivered,” said one industry source who works with GMs. “I think he’s the gold standard.” 

Mark Pantoni, Ohio State 

General manager, player personnel 

Considered the Godfather of the position, Pantoni elicits universal praise and respect from his industry peers. He arrived at Ohio State with Urban Meyer and has had consistent success under multiple head coaches while helping to transform how college football values personnel departments. Fellow general managers praised Pantoni’s sustainability and adaptability in finding ways to keep the Buckeyes on top in the face of remarkable change within the sport. Known as a strong talent evaluator, Pantoni has helped put together two national championship rosters, including last year’s team, while in Columbus. 

Will Redmond, Auburn 

General manager of player personnel 

Family ties to the university helped Auburn pull Redmond away from LSU, and the Auburn GM has helped transform the program’s talent base. The first two years of the Hugh Freeze era haven’t gone as fans have wanted, but industry and personnel sources credit the work Redmond and his team have done in getting the necessary talent to be successful in the SEC after taking over from Bryan Harsin. Auburn signed the nation’s No. 6 recruiting class (led by in-state 5-star Malik Autry) and then loaded up in the transfer portal with a stacked group headlined by Georgia Tech receiver Eric Singleton. 

“They’ve cleaned up over there the last two years and if they can get the quarterback problem right, they are going to be an absolute problem,” said one personnel source. “If they move on from Hugh, someone will take over one of the most loaded rosters in the country that has just not produced.” 

Jordan Sorrells, Clemson 

General manager 

Clemson takes a unique approach to recruiting, almost completely eschewing utilizing the transfer portal, but Sorrels knows what head coach Dabo Swinney wants and has built a sustainable model that focuses on high-character high school recruits. The former Furman quarterback got his first job out of college at Chick-fil A before landing a job at his alma mater and eventually teaming up with Swinney at Clemson. One rival GM praised Sorrels and Clemson’s ability to get its high school recruits on the field in a timely fashion and avoid some of the big portal departures other programs face when players don’t get enough early playing time. Clemson tends to take smaller recruiting classes, focusing on quality over quantity, and has landed at least one five-star each year since 2020. Sorrels is universally liked in the industry and peers believe his demeanor and personality play a big role in the strong culture he’s built within the personnel and recruiting departments. 

“He’s unbelievable,” said a Power 4 GM. “He’s down to Earth and does a fantastic job.”

Barton Simmons, Vanderbilt 

General manager 

Simmons, a former 247Sports national analyst and scouting director, couldn’t say no when a friend he had known since fifth grade came calling and asked him to be Vanderbilt’s general manager. The Yale graduate and Vandy head coach Clark Lea, who were also high school teammates, make up perhaps the most cerebral coach-GM pairing in college football as they took on the arduous task of trying to elevate the Commodores into something more than an SEC doormat. It’s been tough sledding but 2024 saw the breakthrough Simmons and Lea knew was possible when Vanderbilt knocked off No. 1 Alabama and set off a wild celebration through Nashville. Known for his keen eye for talent, Simmons is banking on his evaluation skills to give Vanderbilt an advantage as it tries to keep climbing up the SEC ladder. 

Austin Thomas, LSU 

Senior associate AD for football administration 

Thomas deserves a lot of credit for starting the GM trend in college football. As one of the first to get the title while working for Ed Orgeron at LSU, Thomas has not only made the position more mainstream, he’s helped develop multiple guys who would go on to have leading personnel roles around the country. Thomas is a big-picture thinker who is good at hiring personnel talent, organizing a cohesive strategy and executing it with his team. Those in the space give Thomas a lot of credit for LSU’s aggressive — and successful — transfer portal approach last December that resulted in the No. 1 overall portal haul. Losing No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood was a blow, but the Tigers may be better off in the long run for how Thomas and his staff redeployed those financial resources elsewhere in an effort that has many picking LSU to make the CFP. Giving QB Garrett Nussmeier two high-caliber receivers in Kentucky transfer Barrion Brown and Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson could prove particularly impactful this season. 

Said one GM: “Austin Thomas is the mastermind, the blueprint, the process. He’s just so smart and innovative.” 

The NFL wave 

As college football moves toward a more professional model, it has attracted NFL veterans to take on GM and player personnel roles. We didn’t include the GMs who have recently arrived from the NFL because it’s still too soon, but if they have the success in college football that they did in the professional ranks, it’s a good bet at least a few of them will make the cut for next year’s list. Here are five names, in particular, to watch closely over the next year.

Mike Lombardi, North Carolina: Lombardi has already made waves as college football’s highest-paid GM at $1.5 million annually. Lombardi, who we profiled extensively here, is perhaps the most interesting GM in the space as Bill Belichick’s right-hand man at North Carolina. There have never been more eyes on UNC football as the world tunes in to see what Lombardi and Belichick can accomplish.

Andrew Luck, Stanford: The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback might be the most high-profile GM in the game and one who elicits considerable intrigue for whether other schools will adopt Stanford’s model. Luck may be the closest thing to an NFL GM, as he has the power to hire and fire coaches. He’s already wielded it it by letting go Troy Taylor and replacing him with former Panthers head coach Frank Reich for a one-year stint.

Mike Martin, Notre Dame: Martin is already getting buzz for his work at Notre Dame after arriving there in March from the Detroit Lions. He most recently was the Lions’ director of scouting advancement but also worked for the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tennessee Titans during a two-decade run in the NFL.

Jim Nagy, Oklahoma: Nagy left the Senior Bowl to revolutionize Oklahoma’s personnel and recruiting departments. Unlike many of the GMs on the list who are directly tied to the head coach, Nagy reports to the AD and works “alongside” head coach Brent Venables. Nagy has a well-trained scout’s eye after years in the NFL and then as the Senior Bowl’s executive director where he annually picked the game’s top seniors for the week-long event in Mobile.

Ron Rivera, Cal: The former Carolina Panthers head coach has already been part of a power struggle between the university and some of its biggest boosters in the short time he’s been back in Berkley. The boosters won the battle and have empowered Rivera with full oversight over the football program. It will be interesting to see how Rivera manages the operation in the future after an offseason exodus saw the Bears lose stars like Fernando Mendoza and Jaydn Ott.

Next up? 

These 10 either don’t have the GM title or just started in their position, but are very well thought of in the industry and are a good bet to make this list in the future.

President Trump signed an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” on July 24, 2025. The order, which has been the subject of speculation for weeks, is presented as a response to the rapidly evolving and increasing uneasiness in the current state of college athletics. While the executive order lays out broad policy objectives, it does not directly adopt guidelines impacting recent Name Image and Likeness (NIL) class action settlements or NCAA rule changes.

Notably, the executive order takes a firm stance against third-party pay-for-play agreements, which it calls a “mortal threat to most college sports.” It declares that payments to athletes from outside parties should only be permitted if the deal reflects the fair market value of actual services provided, such as brand endorsements. This language echoes longstanding NCAA rules, so this stance—while noteworthy—does little to alter current NCAA rules on the subject.

The order does not impose any new federal restrictions or override existing state NIL laws. Instead, it directs the U.S. Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to develop policies that support the long-term availability of college athletic opportunities within 60 days of the order.

In addition to expressing concern about revenue-driven changes to college football and men’s college basketball, the order emphasizes the need to protect Olympic competition and women’s sports. The order calls for new scholarship thresholds for non-revenue generating sports and women’s sports, and suggests that a stable path forward must prioritize the sustainability of all collegiate athletic programs.

Importantly, the executive order is silent on two attention-grabbing areas of NIL. The order says nothing about an NCAA antitrust exemption, and it does not reference classifying college athletes as employees. These two issues will continue to be debated for the foreseeable future as the NCAA continues to defend against a plethora of legal action against the organization on multiple fronts.

The “Saving College Sports” order does not provide guidance or enforceable provisions, but the fact that the White House has shined a light on the subject reflects the broad interest in the new world of college sports.

The order may mark just the beginning of the federal government’s growing involvement in the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports. Stay tuned.

*Clay Horowitz, a summer law clerk at McCarter & English not yet admitted to the bar, contributed to this alert.

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Tony Sanchez began his second season as head football coach at New Mexico State University this week, hoping two important goals are accomplished: a successful campaign for his Aggies and a measure of stability amid the chaos sweeping college sports due to NIL deals and multiple transfer portals.

As the leader of a mid-major program, Mr. Sanchez faces the constant challenge of seeing his top talent poached by wealthier, higher-profile schools, while simultaneously hunting for overlooked players to fill those gaps. With money now at the center of everything with little regulation on how it’s distributed, Mr. Sanchez is among those supporting President Trump’s recent executive order aiming to limit NIL deals.

“I 100 percent believe in what he’s doing,” Mr. Sanchez told the New York Sun. “He might be the only person that can actually do something to at least settle things down. Right now, the way the rules are changing at the pace that they’re changing, it doesn’t make sense.”

According to On3 NIL valuations, Arch Manning will earn $6.8 million to quarterback the Texas Longhorns this season, while Carson Beck will be paid $4.3 million to be the quarterback at Miami. Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver at Ohio State, has a $4.2 million valuation. Logan Fife, who previously played at Fresno State and Montano, will be the NMSU quarterback this year. His NIL valuation is estimated at $50,000, sources told the Sun.

Players at Power 4 schools commonly earn seven figure deals. Mid-major schools normally don’t have those resources, which is why players are looking to impress enough to move up a richer deal. Mr. Sanchez, like other coaches around the nation, can deal with that. But the uncapped amount schools can offer backup players combined with transfer portals in the winter and spring, has created an unfair and unsustainable climate that Ms. Sanchez hopes President Trump’s influence can correct.

“We’re never going to have what Texas is giving you,” Mr. Sanchez said. “But at some point, there’s got to be a cap. If there’s no cap, there’s no parity at any level. Bigger schools can take some of your better players to be their second or third string players and pay them a handsome amount of money. For a kid who has never had anything, he sacrifices his opportunity to play for dollars. You can’t blame a kid for that. But at the same time what does it do to the quality of the game? And it’s so nonsensical that we have two transfer portals. Who does that? The NFL doesn’t do that with free agency. It doesn’t make sense.”

In signing the executive order, Mr. Trump called the current NIL landscape an “out-of-control, rudderless system.” It seeks to ban “third-party, pay-for-play, payments to collegiate athletes,” while allowing them to earn income from brand endorsement deals. It also seeks to preserve “scholarships and collegiate athletic opportunities in women’s and non-revenue sports.”

Mr. Trump also wants the National Labor Relations Board to clarify initiatives to make college athletes university employees and form labor unions.

Many smaller schools like New Mexico State, which competes in Conference USA, have formed NIL collectives which seek donations from alumni and their local communities to offer endorsement deals to athletes.

Coaches who once used a four-year educational experience and college lifestyle to recruit players, now lead with dollars and the potential for more dollars. “If you’re going to find a way to have success in this day and age at a non-Power 4 school, you have to change your approach,” Mr. Sanchez said. “We never want anybody to leave, but we’ve got 17 former players at Power 4 schools making $7 million. We had an offensive lineman go to Kentucky for $1.5 million. We tell them that story. We tell them these are the opportunities you have coming to New Mexico State. It takes the BS out of the room. You’ve ripped the Band-Aid off and it’s an open conversation.”

Mr. Sanchez, who served as the head coach at Nevada-Las Vegas from 2014 to 2019, said his staff was better prepared for this season after replacing Jerry Kill at NMSU before the start of the 2024 campaign where the Aggies went 3-9.  “We lost a lot of players before I got the job last year, and then we lost a lot of players after the spring,” he said. “This year we had an idea what might happen, and we planned for it.  We were way more prepared. I think we have a chance to have a pretty good team.”

Meanwhile, he hopes Mr. Trump’s executive order can stabilize the NIL landscape.  “We have the second most viewed sport behind the NFL,” he said. “We have a great product. Let’s keep it that way.”

COLLEGE PARK, MD — Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski has dedicated the team’s annual Coaches Award in honor of former player Mike McIlwain. McIlwain passed away on June 6 after a courageous battle with cancer.

“It is my distinct honor to dedicate our Coaches Award in memory of Mike McIlwain.”, said head coach Sasho Cirovski. “Mike was one of the very first student-athletes I recruited, and he played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for our early success here at Maryland. He exemplified professionalism in everything he did and was the ultimate teammate. Mike carried that same passion and dedication into his professional life, selflessly serving his patients and giving back to his community. Above all, he was a devoted husband and father who always put his family first. There is no one more deserving of this recognition. Mike’s legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of this program.”

McIlwain played at Maryland from 1994-97, and was a member of the 1996 team that won the first ACC championship under coach Cirovski. Over his four years in College Park, McIlwain played in 67 games and made 16 starts. He finished his career with 13 goals and 10 assists, and helped lead the Terrapins to four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. Maryland was the only program in the nation during that four-year span that reached the Sweet 16 every year. The team’s 16 wins during the 1997 were the most in school history at the time.

Following his time at Maryland, McIlwain went to graduate school at the University of Florida to study dentistry. He brought the same hard work and dedication he learned on the soccer pitch to his next career, becoming a Diplomate and Fellow of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. For over 20 years Mike dedicated himself to his patients and his community, offering outstanding care and supporting families. He dedicated himself to many outstanding organizations, including donating his time and expertise to the Tampa Bay Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

Mike’s love for soccer continued after his playing days, as a youth coach for Tampa Bay United. He loved mentoring young athletes, and strived to develop the same love for the game that he learned as a youth player. 

Mike McIlwain is survived by his loving wife Cristina Yarnoz McIlwain, their three children: Ella, Grayson, and Lucia. He will be remembered for his tireless dedication to his family and his community.