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NIL has changed the game in college athletics in a big way. Not only can athletes earn money from local and national businesses, but they can now be paid directly by the university they attend, thanks to the House Settlement.

This got me thinking. Which former West Virginia legends would have made the most money had NIL been a thing during their playing days?

Before I get into my top five, I want to make it known that I tried to include some defensive players, but there was just no room. Plus, we all know skill players on offense are the ones who typically make the most money.

Honorable mention: RB Avon Cobourne, WR Stedman Bailey, LB Darryl Talley, CB Aaron Beasley.

I know what you’re thinking..what?!? Fifth?!? As special as Tavon Austin was, wide receivers just aren’t valued as much as quarterbacks, of course. Don’t get me wrong, he was widely viewed as one of the most electrifying players in college football during his playing days, but his national audience really exploded after his senior year when the “Only One” highlight video went viral. Tavon would have made a lot of money, but probably not as much as his quarterback.

Speaking of the guy who threw it to Tavon, Geno checks in at No. 4. Heck, you could make a case that he should be a spot higher, but I’ll explain my reasoning for that here in a second. Geno was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football and wasn’t afraid to take shots downfield. Other schools would have been doing everything they could to pry him out of Morgantown if the NIL era were during his time. Could you imagine the type of money that would have been thrown at him after the Orange Bowl? Holy smokes.

Slaton is the highest-ranked non-QB on this list. I have him just ahead of Geno because he was, after all, an All-American and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. You also have to keep in mind how valuable running the football was in the early 2000s. With the numbers he posted in ’06, it would have made it very difficult for WVU to keep others away.

Had Pat White arrived in Morgantown, say, 10 years later, he would have been viewed as a first-round draft pick. When he came out, the NFL hadn’t really opened up to the idea of smaller, mobile quarterbacks, and yet he still went in the second round. White was an unstoppable force during his college days and would have had some massive offers after the Sugar Bowl, let alone after the Fiesta Bowl, when schools could have tried to take advantage of Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan.

“The Maj” was truly ahead of his time. He was a unique talent back in the 80s, as dual-threat quarterbacks were more of a rarity. All of the blue bloods would have done everything they could to try to get their hands on the unicorn at the most prized position. This is what puts Major ahead of Pat (on this list) for me. He would have had more value because there was nothing else like him in college football. As far as who the greatest Mountaineer ever is? That’s a different debate, and one I’m not taking a side on. Sorry.

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Jerome Bettis lived life as a major college athlete in the early ’90s when he helped form one of the great backfields in the history of Notre Dame football. He then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Rams and Steelers before retiring and eventually returning to South Bend some 30 years later to earn his degree.

Now Bettis is enjoying life on the other side of things, this time as a parent of a Notre Dame football player. Jerome Bettis, Jr. is a freshman wide receiver for the Fighting Irish and is getting set for his freshman year this coming fall.

pic.twitter.com/JcZVgKctla

— Jerome Bettis Jr (@jeromebettisjr) March 17, 2024

The elder Bettis can certainly see differences in college sports now versus when he played for Lou Holtz, and some of them he’s not too fond of.

“One of the first two questions is gonna be money.” Bettis told the Sporting News, “That was never in the equation. What you used to look for is not necessarily the priority as much. That’s the scary part about this new NIL world that these players are living in. The educational side, I think, is now put on the back burner with the understanding that it’s about the NIL and it is about playing time, right? And, I think that’s the way this, it’s kind of been skewed. I’m not a big fan of, kind of how the process is. I understand it,” Bettis told Andrew Hughes.

Don’t get it confused, Bettis isn’t against NIL, but he’s certainly not a fan of the lack of true commitment that comes these days.

“I think the NIL is necessary, but I do believe you’ve gotta find a way to get the players a little bit more commitment, in a sense that, right now, NIL with the transfer portal makes it a free agency fest. I think it really disrupts a young person’s opportunity with the education. Because if I’m transferring year to year, how is the education affected by that? Because ultimately, what I try to make sure of, that the young people understand when I’m talking to them, is that even if you do have an incredible NFL career, you may play eight, 10 years.

Bettis noted that even those with the best NFL careers post-college have a lot of life left following their playing days.

“You’re gonna be 32, 33, 34 years old. That degree is going to be necessary at some point. You have a long life to live. That education with pay dividends and will be a factor. But if you’re not considering it at all, then it can be to your detriment.”

Based on reading the headline on The Sporting News webpage today, I was worried that Bettis was going to come off sounding like an old man yelling at a cloud. I think what he has to say speaks to why Notre Dame is having so much success in recruiting lately, and specifically with sons of former NFL players.

Those guys get what life is like during a pro football career as well as after. At 16 or 17 years old they may think football will last forever, but before you know it, it’s done, and there are decades upon decades left to live and thrive elsewhere.

Having a degree in something other than Underwater Basket Weaving is a key part of the opportunity that is afforded and Bettis probably has experience of former teammates in the pros could have used more of the academic opportunity, and fears those missed chances may only get worse with this generation when they jump from program to program on an annual basis.

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Many college football fans believe NIL is ruining the sport they love. In today’s age, it feels like players have no loyalty and are chasing the biggest paycheck over staying with a program and developing throughout their careers.

Despite the criticism of NIL, one of the benefits is that it allows high school athletes to immediately make money to support their families through things like brand deals. One  that has taken advantage of NIL is Adidas, and the company just announced its newest class of football stars to represent the brand.

Adidas Unveils Stacked 2025 NIL Class Featuring Top Football Recruits

Adidas recently announced its 2025 NIL class, featuring six top recruits in the 2026 cycle. Each of these athletes will be featured in brand campaigns for the company throughout their final year of high school.

The class is headlined by five-star Tyler Atkison, the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class, and five-star LSU commit Tristen Keys, the No.1 wide receiver in the 2026 class.

I’m blessed to continue #AtkNup with #Adidas.@adidasfootball @adidas @adidasUS @grayson_fb @MilesGarrettTV @On3NIL @On3Recruits @ChadSimmons_ @samspiegs @TomLoy247 @GDPsports @Mhoward38 @MensHealthMag @RecruitGeorgia@jeffsentell @Zack_Poff_MP https://t.co/jNrzB87XRi

— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) June 27, 2025

Along with Atkinson and Keys, Adidas class also features four additional top receiver recruits: five-star Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr, five-star Calvin Russell, four-star Ohio State commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and four-star Texas A&M commit Madden Williams.

It’s a star-studded high school class for Adidas and represents the ever-changing landscape of college athletics in the age of NIL.

While there are obviously downsides to the current NIL system, the fact that these young athletes can sign with a company like Adidas and earn money before they even get to college highlights how NIL can be so special and make massive impacts on these players’ lives.

Every athlete that Adidas signed to this campaign has proven themselves at a high level and are all regarded as some of the best high school football players in the country. They’ve earned the right to be able to make money off of their name, image, and likeness, and Adidas is giving them the platform to do so.

Time will tell if their college careers pan out. Still, they have at least had the opportunity to make life-changing money by signing with Adidas for their senior years and will attempt to solidify their place in college football during the 2026 season.

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Georgia baseball pitcher Nate Taylor has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Georgia pitcher Nate Taylor has officially entered the transfer portal, a move that comes as a surprise after what many believed would be a breakout return to the Bulldogs’ rotation in 2026. Taylor was expected to be a major arm for Georgia next season, bringing power, control, and mound presence to a pitching staff looking to build on recent success.

Taylor’s stock has only risen in recent weeks, as he’s put together an impressive off-season campaign with the Chatham Anglers in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. His dominance on the mound there has only shown more of his talent, making him one of the more intriguing names in the portal.

During the 2025 season with Georgia, Taylor posted an outstanding 1.08 ERA while racking up 17 strikeouts, showcasing his ability to handle SEC lineups with poise and precision. His performance demonstrated both command and competitiveness that made him a dependable arm for the Bulldogs whenever he was called upon.

Now on the move, Taylor becomes a high-value target in the transfer market. Any program lucky enough to land him will be adding a talented right-hander with experience in one of the nation’s top conferences and continued growth from elite summer ball. Whoever picks up Nate Taylor will be gaining a critical piece to boos their pitching rotation with upside and immediate impact.

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