NIL

Deion Sanders’ freshman QB at CU has business plan for future

How coaches salaries and the NIL bill affects college football Dan Wolken breaks down the annual college football coaches compensation package to discuss salaries and how the NIL bill affects them. Sports Pulse Colorado freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis doesn’t turn 18 years old until September and still needs to add more beef to a […]

Published

4 weeks ago

June 4, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Colorado freshman quarterback Julian “JuJu” Lewis doesn’t turn 18 years old until September and still needs to add more beef to a body that weighs less than 200 pounds. But he’s already in the middle of the biggest storyline of the season for his new head coach, Deion Sanders.

As a top recruit out of Carrollton, Georgia, Lewis also has a business agent, his own branded line of merchandise and an ownership stake in a company that aims to democratize name, image and likeness deals for college players (NIL).

In many ways, this makes him the poster child of this wild new era of college sports. His father even makes sure he knows his roles.

“He’s always reminding me that I have two jobs: QB and entrepreneur,” Lewis said.

Lewis agreed to discuss these dual ambitions in an email interview with USA TODAY Sports. Both roles are being boosted by a company that he partly owns called Fanstake, where fans can pay to lure recruits to their favorite college teams by contributing to their NIL deals.

By the end of June, Lewis said he plans to announce at least three other equity deals besides Fanstake and will have four other active NIL deals before the season. Beyond that, Lewis hopes to win the battle to replace Shedeur Sanders as CU’s next starting quarterback and then use Fanstake as a tool to lure top recruits to Colorado.

The goal is to seize all of these opportunities in Boulder, where the spotlight will include at least four CU games on ESPN or Fox in the first month of the season, but with no guarantee that Lewis will play in any of them.

Lewis part of battle to replace Shedeur Sanders

After Lewis signed with Colorado Dec. 4, Liberty transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter committed to CU two weeks later with one season of college eligibility remaining.

Did Lewis know when he committed to CU that the Buffaloes would bring in another QB for 2025?

Might he split time with Salter this season or consider redshirting?

The interview was edited for clarity and length and was arranged through the company.

∎ USA TODAY Sports: Before you committed and signed with CU late last year, did you know CU might later bring in a transfer QB?

“Coach Prime runs this like an NFL team,” Lewis said. “Plus every program in college football is always going to try and get better and have depth at every position. You can’t even prepare for the season without enough QBs on the roster.”

∎ What did CU say about maybe bringing in another QB before you signed with CU?

“CU is about development and competition,” Lewis said. “The only thing I was looking for as a recruit was to be coached by great coaches and have an opportunity to compete as a freshman. I’ve been competing for QB jobs since I was 7. I joined a team at 10 that already had a QB, I competed every day against the guy who was there, and we ended up winning the Battle Youth National Championship that season and I threw 70 touchdown passes.”

Lewis also provided a reminder that he competed for the starting job in high school, too, where he played for the Carrollton Trojans in Georgia.

“Carrollton had kids who grew up wanting to be Trojans and I moved there,” Lewis said. “I wasn’t recruited by (coach) Joey King or asked to come. I made a decision to go and compete at the end of 7th grade. Then, going into 9th grade, I had to compete again for the varsity job. I’m not the kid who was ever handed jobs. My story is different. People just see the results and assume I’ve had some easy path. Other guys’ dads coached teams, and they were automatically the QB. My dad took me to the hardest coaches and toughest programs, and I always had to earn it. Anything different and this wouldn’t be my story.”

∎ Do you see CU picking one QB to go with in the fall season or maybe playing at least two on a situational basis because you have different styles?

“Coach Prime and Coach (Pat) Shurmur are going to put me in the best position to develop and our team in the best position to win. I have total faith in that. And I’ve got a lot of work to do in a little bit of time, so I’m ready when my coaches say I’m ready.”

∎ Do you plan to add a certain amount of weight as some new players do out of high school?

“I’ve gained 15lbs since January,” Lewis wrote. “I’ll probably put on whatever I can add before we get into pads and that will be what it is for this season.”

Lewis is now up to 198 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. He normally would be headed into his senior season of high school in 2025, but he reclassified to start college a year earlier.

∎ How is your NIL business going and how important is that to your college career?

“I’m blessed to be a part of this era in college and high school sports,” Lewis replied. “There are thousands of great athletes who came before us who didn’t have the opportunities today. NIL has nothing to do with my college career; football and NIL are two very separate things. Football is my priority. I have a responsibility to myself, my teammates, and my university to become the best player that I can be. NIL is going well, I’m thankful for the opportunities that I have. My dad and my team have done a really good job creating opportunities for me.”

How Lewis plans to use company to boost CU roster

∎ How did you get involved with Fanstake and what appealed to you about it?

“When I heard about Fanstake, I was immediately interested because it allows players to help each other and their potential programs. At the end of the day we all want to win, and that’s not possible without great teammates around you. The thought of fans being able to support their team and future players during the recruiting process is what made it a ‘no brainer’ for me.”

Lewis also said he looks forward to “using them next portal season to bring in players to join us at CU.”

One way he could do this is by encouraging CU fans to contribute money toward luring a player on Fanstake. The company started in November and already has more than 20,000 users, according to Greg Glass, the company’s co-founder.

One example shows how Fanstake works. Five-star basketball prospect Nate Ament was wooed by Louisville fans who crowdfunded a combined $88,000 on Fanstake for him if he signed with the Cardinals. He instead decided to sign with Tennessee, whose fans had pledged only about $13,000.

The Louisville fans who put money down for Ament got their money returned since Ament signed with a different team. The $13,000 from Tennessee fans instead goes toward Ament’s sponsorship deal with Fanstake.

“It helps democratize this landscape a little bit because even if you can’t write a half-million-dollar check, you can get 100,000 fans to write $10 checks, or whatever it might be,” Glass told USA TODAY Sports.

Fanstake partnered with Lewis after he made his decision to commit to the Buffaloes. The deal appealed to him, Glass said, because it was a way to bring in more talent to Boulder.

“He wanted to make sure it wasn’t just his NIL, but that he had a squad around him that was going to be secure,” Glass said.

The ‘last thing’ Julian Lewis is worried about

Lewis still made it clear where his NIL endeavors fit into his decision to join the Buffs after previously committing to play at Southern California.

∎ Was NIL part of your decision to go to CU?

“No it wasn’t,” Lewis replied. “It really came down to where I wanted to live and the opportunity to follow Shedeur who everyone knew was leaving for the NFL.”

∎ NIL is part of some players’ decisions to stay at a particular school. Would it be for you going forward? If so, how?

“That’s the last thing I’m worried about, right,” Lewis replied. “I’m a Buff.”

∎ Because of your youth compared to Kaidon Salter’s experience, some have wondered if you might be a candidate to redshirt this year. Nothing has been decided about that. But would you be open to that if it was ever suggested to you?

“I’m going to compete everyday and prepare for my freshman season,” he stated.

∎ What are your plans this summer?

“I will be in Boulder for the summer, taking classes and working out.”

∎ By chance do you go back to The Sink in Boulder to have the JuJu burger that the restaurant named after you?

“No not yet.”

∎ For those who don’t know, how did you get the nickname “JuJu”?

“My older sister started calling me JuJu when I was like 3.”

Colorado opens the season Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech in a home game on ESPN.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

Link

NIL

College Football writer clarify’s why Virginia Tech will be a player in the ACC race

One year ago, the Virginia Tech football team was expected to be a big player in the ACC race. Heck, they were expected to be a dark horse for the new 12-team College Football Playoff. In the end, neither came close to being reality as the Hokeis suffered through a second straight 6-6 season. This […]

Published

22 minutes ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This offseason has been an offseason of change with the roster between the NFL Draft and transfer portal, and some big coaching staff changes, unlike the previous offseason. With a ton of questions entering the season, the Hokies remain a wild-card, but one national college football reporter explains why he thinks they could be a player in the ACC race when all is said and done.

National college football writer explains why Virginia Tech could be a player in the ACC race in 2025

Chip Patterson of CBS Sports released a best/worst case scenario for each ACC school, and for Virginia Tech, their best case scenario was 9-3 and their worst was 5-7. In their best scenario, Patterson explains why the Hokies can be a player this fall.

“Kyron Drones puts together his best season yet, and the hire of new offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery unlocks that extra step the Hokies offense needed to get over the hump. Virginia Tech’s 0-5 record in one-score games last season regresses back to the average and the absence of Clemson and SMU on the ACC schedule allows the Hokies to be a player in the conference title race.”

Yes, a healthy Kyron Drones under Philip Montgomery will go a long way in helping Virginia Tech be better, but Patterson notes that no Clemson or SMU on the schedule makes them a potential player in the ACC. Even though neither the Tigers nor the Mustangs are on the schedule, the Hokies face a difficult conference schedule with Louisville, Miami, and Georgia Tech, to name a few.

If Virginia Tech is going to be a player in the ACC in 2025, they will need a lot of things to go right and win more one-score games than they lose. That’s a lot that has to go right, but it can go right.

Link

NIL

Clemson baseball adds veteran left-handed reliever with SEC experience

Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night. Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich. Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night.

Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich.

Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on Saturday, he picked up a commitment from 23-year-old left-handed reliever Michael Sharman. He previously spent time with Tennessee before starting 16 games with Georgia Highlands in the JUCO in 2024 with 101 strikeouts in 92.2 innings, per Jon Blau.

Clemson adds a 23-year-old lefty reliever from Tennessee.

Before pitching for the Vols last season, Sharman started 16 games for JUCO Georgia Highlands in 2024 and registered 101 Ks in 93 2/3 innings. https://t.co/OQtWl0btuT

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) June 29, 2025

This is a nice get for the Tigers who need all the pitching help they can get. Sharman has plenty of experience at the age of 23 and it’s especially reassuring that he spent time with one of the bigger baseball powers in the SEC.

When he was with Tennessee, he had a 3.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.

Clemson is quietly building one of the best rosters in college baseball ahead of the 2026 season. The Tigers have landed some legitimate MLB prospects to play the field and if they end up making it to campus, Clemson will have one of the best offensive teams in the ACC next season. They could also be in line to host another regional.

Addressing pitching needs should make fans happy as it was the biggest weakness in 2025. Bakich is taking his “getting back to a World Series” quote seriously so far this offseason.

Bakich and Brad Brownell have owned the transfer portal recently. Dabo next?

Link

NIL

Ranking the Top Five WVU Players Who Would Have Broken the Bank in the NIL Era

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 […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Nov 23, 2012; Ames, Iowa, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers running back Tavon Austin (1) rushes down field against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images / Peter G. Aiken-Imagn Images

Link

NIL

As Jerome Bettis Jr. Starts at Notre Dame, His Father Questions NIL Era

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 […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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.”

Jerome Bettis runs against Northwestern in 1992

Sep 1992; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish runningback (6) Jerome Bettis in action against Northwestern at Soldier Field. / RVR Photos-Imagn Images

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.

Link

NIL

5

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 […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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.

PFSN College Football Playoff Predictor — Dive into Try out PFSN’s FREE college football playoff predictor, where you can simulate every 2025-26 NFL season game and see who wins the National Championship!

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.

NIL

Clemson football has 5th-best offense in EA Sports College Football 26

Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26. Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 29, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26.

Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when they start their dynasties or Road to Glory modes.

If you do pick Clemson, you’ll have the seventh-best overall team in the game (also tied for the second-highest-rated) which features one of the best offenses. Yes, Clemson will have one of the top offenses in the game when it’s usually known for defense.

Clemson will have the No. 5 offense in the game when it’s released with a 89 overall rating, according to a new ratings reveal on Friday.

The most explosive offenses in College Football 26 are here! #CFB26 | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/EC8BWh8f2X

— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) June 27, 2025

Clemson’s offense is behind only Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, and Arizona State. You could make legitimate arguments that they could be ahead of everyone not named Texas because of the returning production and the fact that the Tigers have the best quarterback in the country but this is a pretty good spot.

Plus, it has LSU at No. 6 which is only going to set up an epic showdown in Death Valley to begin the season as two of the most explosive offenses square off under the lights.

Clemson is surprisingly not the only ACC team to crack the top 10 as Miami also has an 89 rating at No. 10, but the Tigers have more pieces and proven experience.

Raise your hand if you can’t wait until this game comes out.

Link