NIL

NFL scouting director shares how transfer portal and NIL have changed the job

Brian Hudspeth has been the Detroit Lions director of collegiate scouting for the last three draft cycles. He’s been involved in evaluating NFL Draft prospects for over 20 years, but that job and process has undergone a radical change in the era of collegiate name-image-likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. In an interview with Lions […]

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4 weeks ago

April 21, 2025

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NFL scouting director shares how transfer portal and NIL have changed the job

In an interview with Lions staff media member Tim Twentyman, Hudspeth reflected on how the game has changed thanks to NIL.

“The downside of NIL for us is the NIL entices these kids to stay in school now,” Hudspeth stated. “So there’s a lot less depth in the draft.”

The proliferation of now-legal payments to the top college athletes has made it less enticing to leave college for the NFL. Some players might even earn more while continuing to play college football than jumping early to the NFL, something that was not true even three years ago.

Hudpeth continued,

“Generally at the peak of underclassmen coming out, you had about 120 to 130 players. Now, it’s down to 55 to 70. So you’ve lost essentially two rounds of players in some regards. That’s making the assumption that they were all going to be in the top rounds, and they generally were, but you’ve kind of lost some depth. So the NIL world has changed us a little bit that way.”

NIL change

The NIL era has coincided with the liberalization of transfer rules. The transfer portal changed the way the Lions scouting staff approaches the research into players behind the scenes, Hudspeth explained.

“You have guys that have never solidified themselves on the depth chart, so you’re constantly wondering what happened at the previous place,” Hudspeth said. “It causes us to have to do a lot more research and a lot more vetting of the multiple stops before, and the story can always change so you have to find those relationships that you really lean on.”

It’s an interesting point from Hudspeth on just how different the stigma of transferring has been altered with the recent changes. All NFL teams are now dealing with the divergent workload and more variables introduced by the transfer portal’s rapid expansion.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: NFL scouting director: How transfer portal and NIL are changing job

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Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement

Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement Privacy Manager Link 0

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22 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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Everything You Need to Know About the House v. NCAA Settlement

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IU will have some of the highest-paid assistants in college basketball – The Daily Hoosier

Darian DeVries’ top assistant coaches are likely some of the highest-paid in the country. The Daily Hoosier obtained copies of the memorandums of understanding for new assistant coaches Rod Clark, Kenny Johnson and Nick Norton this week through a public records request. According to those documents, Johnson will make in total before bonuses $750,000 in his […]

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23 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Darian DeVries’ top assistant coaches are likely some of the highest-paid in the country.

The Daily Hoosier obtained copies of the memorandums of understanding for new assistant coaches Rod Clark, Kenny Johnson and Nick Norton this week through a public records request.

According to those documents, Johnson will make in total before bonuses $750,000 in his first year, Clark will make $650,000, and Norton $200,000. As previously reported, Drew Adams will make $400,000.

Unlike college football, it is very rare for a college basketball assistant coach to make over $1 million. But there aren’t public databases that aggregate and report their salaries, so information is limited when it comes to what assistants are making at the top end of the spectrum.

Six months ago when The News Gazette obtained records from across the Big Ten it found that Illinois’ Orlando Antigua was the highest-paid assistant coach in the conference at $900,000 per year, followed by Rutgers’ Brandin Knight at $700,000.

UConn assistant coaches Kimani Young ($1.1 million) and Luke Murray ($893,000) seem to be among the highest-paid. Those figures likely include bonuses earned during their most recent championship run. Arkansas assistants Chin Coleman and Kenny Payne have been reported to be making $700,000 and $900,000, respectively.

Each of Johnson, Clark and Adams arrived at IU with significant experience. All three came from another high major program — Johnson from Georgetown, Clark from Tennessee and Adams from Cincinnati. Norton came with DeVries from West Virginia and is still relatively young at 29.

All of the new IU assistants will have a chance to earn bonuses based on how far Indiana advances in the NCAA Tournament. Each contract is for two years, but will automatically extend an additional year on June 30 of each year, unless IU gives notice of non-renewal.

Indiana has yet to officially announce any of the assistant coaches other than Norton. That is expected to occur at some point this month.

For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Charles Barkley delivers dose of reality to Auburn about what he's willing to give in NIL

College athletics have gone through some radical changes over the last several years, and one of the biggest changes has of course been the NIL era. As an essentially legal pay-for-play type environment has arisen, programs have had to raise millions of dollars in order to keep their teams competitive. A huge chunk of that […]

Published

49 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Charles Barkley delivers dose of reality to Auburn about what he's willing to give in NIL

College athletics have gone through some radical changes over the last several years, and one of the biggest changes has of course been the NIL era.

As an essentially legal pay-for-play type environment has arisen, programs have had to raise millions of dollars in order to keep their teams competitive.

A huge chunk of that money has come from the wealthiest donors to the school, and in the case of the Auburn Tigers, one of those just so happens to be basketball legend and media giant Charles Barkley.

Barkley spoke candidly about the fact that people expect too much from him in terms of contributions during his tee time at the Regions Tradition pro-am on Wednesday.

“I’ve given more money to Auburn, legal or illegal, than any athlete in the history of the school,” Barkley said on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on WJOX-FM, interestingly declaring that he was giving money before the NIL system was in place. “And the notion that I’m going to come up with a couple million dollars every year so that we can be good at basketball and football — that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Barkley went on to not mince words as he has never been known to do, saying he isn’t going to make himself poor to allow Auburn to compete.

“One thing I’m pretty sure of, Black and broke don’t work, in any municipality in the world. I’ve been rich for a long time. I plan to stay that way. But the notion that I’m going to give Auburn millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports, that’s just not going to happen. I’m really proud of what I’ve given Auburn and I’m going to continue to give them money, but I’m not going to give them millions of dollars every year so we can be good at sports. That’s just stupid. People will be talking about me behind my back. ‘How did that guy go broke? How did he lose all that money?’ Because y’all wanted to be good at sports, fool!”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

NIL

JuJu Watkins Adds NIL Partnership With Pottery Barn Teen For ‘Dream’ Makeover

USC Trojans women’s basketball guard JuJu Watkins has been making Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals since she was a senior in high school. While it may be the offseason, Watkins is adding another NIL partnership, teaming up with Pottery Barn Teen. Ahead of the 2024-2025 season, Watkins and Pottery Barn Teen teamed up to […]

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52 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Mar 24, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) during pregame warmups before an NCAA Tournam — Feb 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) shoots a free throw during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

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Cowboy Baseball Claims Series Opener Over Arizona State

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State defeated Arizona State by a 6-2 score in Thursday night’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium. With the win, the Cowboys improved to 25-22 overall and 13-12 in Big 12 play, while ASU fell to 35-19 and 18-10 in conference play. Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 14th start […]

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54 minutes ago

May 16, 2025

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STILLWATER – Oklahoma State defeated Arizona State by a 6-2 score in Thursday night’s series opener at O’Brate Stadium.

With the win, the Cowboys improved to 25-22 overall and 13-12 in Big 12 play, while ASU fell to 35-19 and 18-10 in conference play.

Harrison Bodendorf got the ball for his 14^th start of the season and once again made his case as the Big 12’s top pitcher. The junior southpaw worked seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just one run to move to 10-1 on the season.

Bodendorf became the first Cowboy pitcher to record double-digit wins in a season since Jensen Elliott, who also recorded 10, in 2019. Bodendorf also completed the regular season without allowing a stolen base against him in 81 1/3 innings.

On offense, Nolan Schubart and Colin Brueggemann both homered, and Brayden Smith provided the biggest knock of the night with a three-run double.

Bodendorf got himself into trouble in the first inning as the first three Sun Devil batters got a hit, with the third off the bat of Matt King bringing home a run. But the Cowboy ace escaped further damage, ending the inning by inducing a 4-6-3 double play.

Schubart evened the score in the bottom of the inning, launching a two-out home run to right field. The blast was Schubart’s 15^th of the season and 55^th of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth on OSU’s all-time list with Billy Gasparino and Ray Ortiz.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Bodendorf in the second that included a pair of strikeouts, the Pokes had a big inning with the bats. Kollin Ritchie, Avery Ortiz and Alex Conover loaded the bases, and Brock Thompson brought in the Cowboys’ second run of the game with an RBI walk. The next batter, Smith, drove in all three Cowboys with a double to the left-center field gap to extend the lead to 5-1.

With his strikeout of Isaiah Jackson to end the top of the fifth inning, Bodendorf had retired 15 consecutive ASU hitters. In the bottom of the inning, Brueggemann hit a ball off the centerfield batter’s eye to push the lead to 6-1.

After retiring 18-straight Sun Devils, Bodendorf surrendered a single to King in the seventh. ASU would go on to load the bases with one out, but Bodendorf got out of the jam with a strikeout and an inning-ending groundout.

Ryan Ure replaced Bodendorf in the eighth and was able to get out of the inning after catcher Ian Daugherty did a textbook job of backing up first base after an errant throw, and Landon Hairston was caught in no man’s land between first and second base.

Gabe Davis pitched the ninth, and after allowing one run, was able to get Brody Briggs to fly out with the bases loaded to hold on for the win.

The Cowboys will look to clinch the series Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday’s finale is set for a noon start.

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Napheesa Collier Signs With Jordan Brand After 'Meaningful' MJ Pitch

Napheesa Collier has swapped Nike properties, trading in the Swoosh for the Jumpman. The Minnesota Lynx star has signed a multiyear deal with Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand—the apparel company inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Collier, a four-time WNBA All-Star, had been with Nike for the last five years, regularly playing in player-exclusive Nike Kobes […]

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1 hour ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Napheesa Collier has swapped Nike properties, trading in the Swoosh for the Jumpman.

The Minnesota Lynx star has signed a multiyear deal with Nike subsidiary Jordan Brand—the apparel company inspired by NBA legend Michael Jordan. Collier, a four-time WNBA All-Star, had been with Nike for the last five years, regularly playing in player-exclusive Nike Kobes and KDs.

But it was time for a change, she said, citing the investment Jordan Brand is making into the women’s game. Jumpman branding, for example, has appeared on game uniforms for the last two WNBA All-Star Games as part of Nike’s partnership with the WNBA.

“Jordan has [its] own identity, [its] own athletes and does things a different way,” Collier said in a video interview. “There’s a big separation.”

In February, the Jumpman himself made an in-person recruiting pitch to Collier while she was in Miami for Unrivaled’s inaugural season. Collier said the Hall-of-Famer highlighted UConn and Lynx legend Maya Moore, the first woman basketball player to sign with the company, and the apparel giant’s potential to elevate her personal brand.

Jordan made a point to say that his company would continue to support her regardless of her sneaker decision. It was a conversation she described as far more about the brand’s ethos than money or merchandise allotment.

“It’s his brand but he doesn’t need to be on the ground doing these things,” she said. “So, for him to come to the meeting and do that was really meaningful. It was awesome.”

The Jordan Brand business has become a top performer for Nike, surpassing $7 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024.

Collier is switching to Jordan Brand as women’s basketball is experiencing unprecedented growth in viewership and cultural influence. The 28-year-old has put together a decorated career since being drafted in 2019, leading the Lynx to the WNBA Finals last season. But the WNBPA executive committee vice president and co-founder of new 3-on-3 league Unrivaled has also been one of the league’s most important voices off the court as a catalyst pushing for increased player wages amid collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Collier, who officially signed with Jordan Brand last month, spoke with Jordan again after turning down the other shoe brands that had expressed interest during her sneaker free-agency period.

Collier said she’s happy to finally be on the same team as Moore, who officially retired in 2023. The Missouri native joins the Jordan Brand women’s roster of 12 WNBA players that includes Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard and Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans. Collier’s move coincides with Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally leaving Jordan Brand for Adidas.

“This is a partnership that I want to have for the rest of my career,” Collier said.

Stars across the WNBA are dropping signature shoes; this month, Aces star A’Ja Wilson released her own sneaker, the A’One, which sold out in minutes. The three-time MVP is the 13th WNBA player to have a signature shoe.

When asked if Collier could be the next, she hinted that she and Jordan Brand may have something in the works. “You’ll have to stay tuned,” she said.