NIL

FIU coach Willie Simmons on FAMU departure: ‘Left on solid footing.’

Published

3 months ago

September 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Willie Simmons, now the head football coach at Florida International University, returned to Tallahassee as a keynote speaker.
Simmons previously coached at Florida A&M from 2018 to 2023, leading the team to a national championship in his final season.
He left FAMU for a running backs coach position at Duke to gain Power Four experience before landing the FIU head coaching job.
Simmons discussed the modern challenges of college football, including retaining players due to the transfer portal and NIL.

Welcome back to the Capital City, Willie Simmons.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the first-year Florida International head football coach was the keynote speaker at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club, hosted at the Champions Club at Florida State University’s Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Quincy native spent the 2018 to 2023 football seasons in Tallahassee as Florida A&M’s head coach, going 45-13.

The former Shanks High School star quarterback, who went on to play collegiately at Clemson and The Citadel, became an honorary lifetime Tallahassee Quarterback Club member in December 2023. He joined legendary FAMU football coach Jake Gaither and renowned FSU football coach Bobby Bowden with that honor.

“No matter where I go in my coaching career, this will always be home for me,” Simmons, 44, told the packed Tallahassee Quarterback Club audience.

Before joining the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision coaching ranks, Simmons led one of the golden eras of FAMU football.

After being hired away from Prairie View A&M in 2018, Simmons coached the Rattlers to five consecutive winning seasons after FAMU hadn’t enjoyed one since 2011.

In his final year at FAMU, Simmons’ Rattlers captured their first-ever Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and Celebration Bowl trophies en route to the program claiming its 16th Black College Football National title.

“One of the biggest questions that I get asked a lot is why I left FAMU,” Simmons said. “Obviously, we had a lot of success there ― built that program back up to national prominence. That was one of the proud moments of my coaching career, being able to walk away with a national championship.”

Two weeks after confetti fell from the rafters of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium onto the Rattlers after completing a comeback victory over Howard 30-26 to win the Celebration Bowl, Simmons departed on Monday, January 1, 2024, to become the Duke Blue Devils running backs coach on head coach Manny Diaz’s staff.

In late January 2024, FAMU promoted Simmons’ assistant head coach James Colzie III to become the program’s 19th full-time head coach.

Looking to advance his career, Simmons’ move to become a Power Four assistant was a necessary step to climb the coaching ladder after inquiring with athletic directors, search firms, and peers. That assisted in his decision to leave the HBCU for Duke.

Simmons had been a head coach on the Football Championship Subdivision level with Prairie View and FAMU and an FBS offensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State.

However, Power Four experience eluded him. The former FAMU head coach helped the Duke Blue Devils finish with a 9-4 record and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

“At a certain point in my career, I had to start thinking about what’s next,” Simmons reflected.

“The end goal was never to retire at FAMU. My goal was to build the program. And we felt we did that. So, I really started to think, going into that last season, that if the right opportunity presented itself, I may have to explore it. So, after a lot of prayer and talking it over with the family, I felt it was the right decision. Because I felt that we had left FAMU on solid footing and a good foundation.”

He described Duke as a “great experience.” Simmons began getting calls to gauge his interest in forthcoming Group of Five jobs midway through his lone year with the Blue Devils.

FIU, which competes in the Conference USA, was a job Simmons was highly interested in and ultimately landed on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, replacing Mike MacIntyre after three consecutive 4-8 seasons.

The FIU hire was a full circle moment for Simmons, allowing him to return to his home state at the Miami-based public university, and saw him accept the job he was a candidate for three years prior, in 2021.

The FIU Panthers are 2-2 in Simmons’ first quartet of games, last losing 38-16 at home versus the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Saturday, Sept. 20. FIU’s glowing moment thus far has been defeating Florida Atlantic in the Shula Bowl (38-28) on Saturday, Sept 13, for the first time since 2016.

“In the back of my mind, I’ve always had FIU circled,” Simmons said. “I’m a Florida boy through and through, and I always felt that the program had the potential to be one of the top Group of Five programs in the country.”

Willie Simmons discusses NCAA Transfer Portal and NIL in college football

Simmons has seen many eras of college football as a player and coach.

However, none has been like the current landscape of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness, which promotes player empowerment and financial compensation.

For example, Simmons discussed how he foresees having to make an exerted effort to retain FIU star defensive backs Jessiah McGrew and Mister Clark.

A true freshman, McGrew is a Tallahassee product out of Florida High School.

“Starting mid-October, what players on our current roster do I have to go and re-recruit? I have to start recruiting my current roster before the season ends,” Simmons explained. “All of the players that we identify as guys who have the potential to be poached, I now have to do official visits with them again ― take their parents out to eat, wine and dine them, and talk to them about what it will take to keep them in our program.”

FIU is a newer institution, opening in 1972, and introducing a football program in 2002. FIU began competing in the FBS in 2004.

With the University of Miami 15 minutes away in Coral Gables and other FBS and Power Four programs across Florida, Simmons is educating FIU alumni and stakeholders on how to support the program financially and through general player support.

“That’s the new age of collegiate athletics,” Simmons said. “We’re recruiting our own roster harder than next year’s roster. That’s everywhere in America.”

Willie Simmons still has a deep-rooted love for Tallahassee

The chill-mannered Simmons represents Quincy loudly and boldly.

And he is loyal to Tallahassee, as 28 minutes down Interstate 10 separates the two cities.

In 2023, FAMU and FSU’s football teams enjoyed conference titles, with the Rattlers winning the SWAC under Simmons and the Seminoles claiming the Atlantic Coast Conference trophy led by head coach Mike Norvell. That was the eighth time both Tallahassee football teams won conference championships in the same year.

FAMU and FSU are in action in Week 5 of the college football season.

The Rattlers are 1-2 and fresh off a bye week with an opportunity to turn their season around during Saturday, Sept. 27’s SWAC home opener on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium versus the unbeaten Alabama State Hornets (2-1), who are projected to be one of the league’s top teams. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. on HBCU GO and 96.1 JAMZ.

The eighth-ranked Seminoles are a perfect 3-0 and host their ACC opener versus the Virginia Cavaliers (3-1) at Doak Campbell Stadium this Friday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

“I would put Tallahassee, Florida, up against any city in the world when Florida State and FAMU are winning football games,” Simmons said.

“Crime is down, businesses are booming, the sweet tea is sweeter ― everything about this place is better when these two programs are doing well.”

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

Link

NIL

Miami WR Malachi Toney Announces Career News Amid College Football Season

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes defeated the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies 10-3 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was a defensive battle, ultimately decided by a late fourth-quarter score and red-zone interception by Miami.

With the score tied at 3 and 1 minute, 44 seconds left in the game, Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass thrown by quarterback Carson Beck.

Up next for the Hurricanes is a Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic matchup against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s an uphill battle, as ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Hurricanes a 29.5% chance of winning.

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (10).© Robert Myers-Imagn Images

Before his heroic performance, though, the wide receiver revealed an exciting Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) update. In a joint Instagram post, Toney revealed a new NIL partnership with Hellstar, a popular clothing brand that has a sports training component.

“We are so proud to announce our first Hellstar Sports College Athlete NIL signing – Malachi Toney🌟.,” the post caption read. “We had the privilege to coach @malitoney10 while he was apart of our high school 7 on 7 program, so now seeing him shine on the collegiate level we couldn’t be more proud.”

Link

NIL

What Colorado’s Athletic Department Valuation Says About Buffaloes’ Growth

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In the growing landscape of college athletics, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals play a vital role in sports. Some programs are set up better than others based on a program’s valuation. Programs with higher valuations can help some of the top-performing teams stay successful.

CNBC released its valuation rankings for the country’s athletic departments, showing their growth from the 2024 fiscal year. The Colorado Buffaloes are ranked No. 47 in the nation, a rise from No. 55 in 2024.

Colorado Buffaloes valuation NIL transfer portal Deion Sanders Coach Prime Big 12 College Football Basketball Folsom Field — Nov 25, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion ‘Coach Prime’ Sanders on the field against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images

Breaking Down Colorado Buffaloes’ Valuation Ranking

Colorado’s 2025 valuation is $574 million, with a year-over-year value change of 22 percent. The program’s 2024 revenue is set at $147 million, with a 16 percent year-over-year revenue change.

A program’s valuation determines its monetary worth, and it is important to look at the growth, which shows that Colorado is trending in the right direction. It is also important to note that the valuation rankings are based on all of the athletics, not just the football program.

Where Colorado Ranks In The Big 12

When focusing on the Big 12 conference, several of the programs are in the same vicinity with their valuation ranking.

No. 39 Kansas: $620M
No. 41 Oklahoma State: $600M
No. 42 Baylor: $585M
No. 46 Iowa State: $575M
No. 47 Colorado: $574M
No. 49 Texas Tech: $570M
No. 50 TCU: $568M
No. 55 Arizona: $529M
No. 57 BYU: $500M
No. 58 West Virginia: $481M
No. 60 Utah: $451M
No. 62 Kansas State: $435M
No. 63 Arizona State: $430M
No. 68 Cincinnati: $280M
No. 70 UCF: $262M
No. 73 Houston: $222M

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

While from the top valuation of Kansas to the bottom, which is Houston is a significant difference in the Big 12, the conference teams are still in a similar vicinity overall. With it having to do with all athletics, the programs that have consistently strong teams, such as Kansas’ basketball team, make sense to have a higher valuation.

Looking at the Big 12 as a whole shows that the Colorado Buffaloes are in the top five for their valuation and trending upward.

Calling Back To Deion Sanders’ Comments On Fairness

While valuation is not the same as revenue, seeing the difference in the conferences does call back to Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ comments on the fairness between programs. The schools in the top five for their valuation are either in the Big Ten or the SEC, and all are in the billions.

“You talk about equality,” Sanders said during the Big 12 media day. “All you have to do is look at the playoffs and see what those teams spent, and you understand darn near why they’re in the playoffs. It’s kind of hard to compete with somebody who’s giving $25, $30 million to a darn freshman class.”

Although the valuation is on the programs’ overall athletics, Sanders has been outspoken about money when it comes to building the football program. With the Buffaloes facing a mass exodus through the transfer portal, Sanders has highlighted that several players are leaving because of money.

The positive side is that the Buffaloes’ valuation is growing with a 22 percent increase. This shows that the school’s athletics overall are being valued higher, and will help lead to more money poured into the program. With more money, the Buffaloes can put more of an emphasis on NIL as they look to build their roster and compete in the Big 12.

Insider Reveals Biggest Reason Behind Colorado’s Transfer Portal Mass Exodus

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

From a player retention standpoint, the first few weeks of the offseason haven’t been kind to the Colorado Buffaloes.

Several key Buffs have announced their intentions to enter the college football transfer portal when it opens next month, including wide receiver Omarion Miller, safety Tawfiq Byard and freshman defensive end Alexander McPherson. While every situation is unique, one Colorado insider believes money has been a common denominator among players’ reasons for leaving Boulder.

Insider Reasons Colorado Transfer Portal Exodus Buffaloes NIL Deion Sanders Alexander McPherson Tawfiq Byard Omarion Miller — Oct 25, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Omarion Miller (4) is tackled by Utah Utes defensive back JC Hart (14) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

“The super majority of those people, I’m talking 95 percent, are going to be leaving for a bigger bag,” Thee Pregame Show’s Uncle Neely said on his YouTube channel. “This ain’t transferring in 1990. This ain’t transferring in the year 2000. This is 2025. This is business now. This isn’t, ‘Oh, I don’t like the coach. Oh, I don’t want to be treated the way they treat me.’

“This doesn’t mean something is wrong. These are business decisions now. But what we like to do is run with the narrative that woe is me, something must be wrong, something must be going on. How are all these people leaving?”

The NIL (name, image and likeness) era has rocked college football, and the depressing truth is that schools with more money will ultimately land the best players. In the Big 12, no school better exemplifies that trend than new conference champion Texas Tech.

Who’s Leaving Colorado?

As of Sunday, 16 Colorado players will enter the transfer portal next month. That group includes 12 defensive players, six members of the Buffs’ 2025 high school signing class and a few other Buffs who spent only one season in Boulder.

Below is an updated list of Colorado players who plan on entering the transfer portal:

Safety TJ Branch
Defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis
Cornerback Noah King
Cornerback Teon Parks
Linebacker Mantrez Walker
Safety Terrance Love
Safety Tawfiq Byard
Wide receiver Omarion Miller
Defensive tackle Brandon Davis-Swain
Offensive lineman Carde Smith
Defensive end Alexander McPherson
Offensive lineman Tyler Brown
Defensive tackle Gavriel Lightfoot
Defensive tackle Christian Hudson
Defensive tackle Tawfiq Thomas
Wide receiver Dre’lon Miller

Uncle Neely shared his take that Colorado’s losses should be replaceable via the transfer portal.

“Have you ever stopped to say, what am I actually losing by those people leaving?” Uncle Neely said. “Have you ever looked at the numbers production-wise of who has announced that they’re getting up out of here and what you’re actually losing by them leaving?… Is it replaceable via the portal? And in this business in college football, is it replaceable cheaper? I would wager to say the answer is yes in all regards.”

MORE: Colorado Gets Hit With Biggest Transfer Portal Loss Yet

MORE: Michael Irvin Gets Real On Blame Surrounding Shedeur Sanders

MORE: Deion Sanders Faces Recruiting Problem After Omarion Miller Transfer News

The college football transfer portal will open on Jan. 2 and close Jan. 16. Colorado coach Deion Sanders and his staff can begin adding players from the portal at the start of that period.

Link

NIL

Report: LSU finalizes deal to hire Ole Miss’ Kevin Smith, puts him among highest paid RBs coaches

Published

7 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Lane Kiffin is bringing another Ole Miss assistant with him to LSU. According to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Tigers have finalized a deal to hire Rebels running backs coach Kevin Smith for the same role.

Smith is reported to have a salary of close to $1 million, which would make him one of the highest-paid running backs coaches in the country. He is the sixth Ole Miss assistant to follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge.

The other coaches joining Kiffin at LSU are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach Joe Cox, receivers coach Joe McDonald, inside receivers coach Sawyer Jordan and quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens. So far no defensive assistants from the Rebels have made the jump to Baton Rouge.

Smith worked with Kiffin as a running backs coach at Florida Atlantic form 2017-19 and joined his very first staff at Ole Miss in 2020. He stayed for the next two seasons in Oxford before leaving to take the running backs coach position at Miami in 2022.

Smith’s stint with the Hurricanes was a short-lived one as he returned to Ole Miss in 2023 and stayed through this season. Now he’ll look to continue the success he has enjoyed with Kiffin while building up the running backs room at LSU.

Smith helped to develop running backs such as Quinshon Judkins and Kewan Lacy during his time in Oxford. This past season, Ole Miss ranked fifth in the SEC with 185.6 rushing yards per game as Lacy led the conference with 21 rushing touchdowns and ranked second with 1,366 yards.

Ole Miss had its best season in program history this year to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time. However, Kiffin was not granted permission from the school to finish out the season with the Rebels after he accepted the LSU job.

Other assistants, including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., were allowed to complete the playoff run with Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated Tulane in the first round and will face No. 3 Georgia, which they lost to earlier this season, in the quarterfinals.

As of right now, it looks like most of the Ole Miss offensive staff will follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge. The defensive side keep defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who has been on staff at LSU since 2024.

Link

NIL

Former 4-star QB announces plans to enter college football transfer portal

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The quarterback market is expected to be extremely competitive this offseason.

A ton of experienced signal-callers have announced their decisions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, including Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker, Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, and TCU’s Josh Hoover, among countless others.

The right move can benefit young quarterbacks, as players such as USC’s Jayden Maiava and Oregon’s Dante Moore benefited from transferring early in their careers.

An offseason coaching change has led one former blue-chip recruit to explore his options in the portal.

Former Four-Star Quarterback Expected To Enter Portal

On Sunday, Memphis true freshman quarterback Antwann “AJ” Hill announced his plans to leave the program after one season, per On3.

Hill appeared in two games in 2025, earning a redshirt. His most extensive action came in a 31-24 loss to UAB on October 18. Hill entered the contest after starting quarterback Brendon Lewis went down with an injury. In roughly two quarters of action, he completed 13/25 passes for 176 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

On the season, Hill connected on 19/32 passes for 223 yards with 1 touchdown to 1 interception.

Hill is transferring after Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield was hired away by Arkansas. The Razorbacks don’t have a ton of depth at quarterback. Redshirt freshman KJ Jackson holds the most experience on the roster with five appearances and one start last season.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Arkansas is involved in Hill’s transfer recruitment.

Hill was one of the highest-ranked prospects in program history to sign with Memphis. He was regarded as the No. 15 QB and a top-200 recruit in the 2025 class. Hill chose the Tigers over Florida following official visits to both schools.

During his prep career at Houston County High School, Hill compiled over 11,000 passing yards and led his team to at least one playoff victory in all three seasons as a starter.

Overall, Hill completed 800-of-1239 passes for 11,020 yards with 123 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. He added six more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback is expected to have four seasons of eligibility remaining.

Former Carolina wide receiver set for WWE main roster debut

Published

12 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Former South Carolina wide receiver Matrick Belton is reportedly going to get a real shot on the main roster in the WWE. Belton, who goes by Trick Williams in the top professional wrestling and sports entertainment company, joined WWE in 2021 in the NXT brand. Now, he’s going to move up to either the Raw or Smackdown roster.

NXT is basically the developmental arm of WWE while Raw and Smackdown – shows on Mondays and Fridays, respectively – are considered the main roster. According to this report from PWInsider.com, Belton will make an appearance on the upcoming Smackdown, which was pre-taped.

Whether Belton moves to Raw or Smackdown is to be determined. Here’s the reporting from PWInsider:

Former WWE NXT and TNA Champion Trick Williams will debut on Smackdown on 12/26 with the storyline being he’s a free agent looking to sign with the brand. We are told Williams has not been officially listed internally on a brand yet, so he could appear on Raw in the upcoming weeks as well, but he’ll be moving to the main roster in 2026.

Belton is a two-time NXT champion and also held the TNA World Championship for 140 days earlier this year. Belton, a former SEC football player who was in the Philadelphia Eagles’ minicamp in 2018, recently got engaged to another former SEC athlete – women’s basketball player Anriel Howard, who played for three years at Texas A&M and her final year at Mississippi State.

Belton, a Columbia native who played for Keenan High School, joined the program in 2014 after spending his first two years out of high school at Hampton University. After sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules, Belton played in every game for South Carolina in 2015 and made five starts. He caught 11 passes for 121 yards his first season on the field.

As a senior in 2016, he played primarily on special teams, appearing in nine games. He played in 21 games over the course of his two-year career with the Gamecocks and made five starts.

Belton also spent time in training camp with Philadelphia Eagles. However, he decided to take a chance on pro wrestling and started training at the Combat Zone Wrestling Academy in New Jersey.

Link