The post LaNorris Sellers’ father opens up about $8 million NIL offers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

South Carolina football quarterback LaNorris Sellers is walking around wealthy on campus. Sellers inked a blockbuster deal with South Carolina’s NIL collective around Christmas. But he’s since reeled in his million in endorsements.

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Sellers’ father Norris opened up about the son’s high volume of offers. Turns out one was worth $8 million — which was an offer to transfer.

Was the Gamecocks’ quarterback considering jumping into the college football transfer portal? Norris Sellers revealed why the son opted to stay in Columbus in a Monday interview with The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

“By my two cents: It was to get into college on a scholarship, play ball, get our degree and go on about our business. This NIL deal came later,” Norris Sellers said.

He also let his son know he’s going to operate differently in CFB era dominated by NIL deals.

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“We didn’t come here to make money. We came here to get our education, play ball, and with schools calling, we’re not gonna jump ship because they’re offering more than what we’re getting. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Norris Sellers explained.

South Carolina hearing NFL hype for LaNorris Sellers 

The Gamecocks have a potential Heisman Trophy winner on their hands for 2025. And a possible top five pick ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Sellers has become that dynamic in his short time of playing QB for SC.

Even with the offers to transfer, Sellers’ father reminded him where he really is.

“You don’t need ($8 million). You’re in a great spot,” he told Feldman. “There were several talks, but it never really crossed his mind (to leave). It’s a challenge with colleges offering younger guys that kind of money. Who’s gonna say no to $8 million for two years? They’re gonna be swayed if you don’t have the right people in your corner.”

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The 6-foot-3, 242-pound QB threw 2,534 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He added 674 rushing yards and scored seven times. Sellers could now become the first South Carolina QB to land in the first round if he delivers a monster ’25 season. His father helped remind him of the great situation he has in the Palmetto State.

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Day one in Colorado Springs lived up to the hype, Mark Pope making his USA Basketball coaching debut while Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno represented the Kentucky Wildcats on the U19 Training Camp roster — with a ridiculous number of other major targets to keep an eye on, including nine 2026 recruits holding scholarship offers.

KSR kept things rolling with a Live Blog throughout the day, but how about the big-picture updates on the top standouts? The list is long on takeaways, but we’ll narrow it down to some of the best as we inch closer toward the final roster going to Switzerland for the 2025 FIBA World Cup.

AJ Dybantsa is on a planet of his own at No. 1

It was a performance that led to a postgame debate wondering how many points per game he’d average in the NBA today. Down big in the final minutes of the afternoon session scrimmage, the BYU signee single-handily led his team back to victory with not one, not two, but three separate clutch buckets with defensive stops and forced turnovers to pull it off. The one kid in the gym with nothing to prove — No. 1 in his class, all of the NIL money in the world, likely No. 1 draft pick in 2026 — was screaming to his teammates to pick up 94 feet with defensive call-outs and counting down each second on the inbounds begging for a violation. He was obsessed with earning what amounts to a meaningless scrimmage win in a training camp he could have skipped entirely and still made the final 12-member 2025 FIBA World Cup roster without losing a second of sleep.

It’s because he’s different, in a category by himself in this ’25 high school class. Any other conversation is overthinking it or trying too hard to be controversial. Dybantsa owned the highest highs of any player in the gym on day one and it wasn’t close.

Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno prove they belong

Johnson was red-hot in drills and skill work to open the day, but couldn’t get shots to fall in the first scrimmage. That changed in the second, going on his own dynamite scoring run to get rolling with pretty floaters and catch-and-shoot makes. College coaches in attendance were talking about his talent in the gym after the day wrapped up and what Kentucky is getting in his addition.

While his individual run turned heads, Moreno was more consistent and had the better day overall. He uses his body well to create space and positions himself for boards with the best of them, a top-two center in the gym behind only Michigan’s Morez Johnson — No. 1 among ’25 and ’26 kids in attendance. The Georgetown native is long and runs the floor well, skilled with soft hands and feel. Scouts raved about his growth over the last year and his body transformation, wondering if he’ll play more in year one as a Wildcat than anticipated.

Point being, it was a good day for the in-state freshmen, who both fit right in among returning collegiate talent and the best newcomers and rising high school seniors in the country.

… but so does Mikel Brown Jr.

That was the good news as it relates to Kentucky. The bad news is that Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. — who took an official to Lexington and was a top target for the Wildcats before other dominoes fell and the two sides parted ways — is really freaking good too. He’s a shot-maker at the highest level and a crafty finisher, but most importantly, he’s got some dog in him that should allow him to become one of the best first-year players in college basketball next season. The 6-3 guard is thin and limited athletically, but he’s skilled with all of the confidence in the world.

And he’s going to Kentucky’s bitter in-state rival, likely to be very good as a one-and-done and potential lottery pick. Be prepared for plenty of national attention on the Cardinals — it’ll probably be deserved.

Koa Peat is MVP of the day

Dybantsa had the highest highs and talent was all over the floor, but no one impressed me more from the time I walked into the gym until the time I walked out than Arizona’s Koa Peat. He’s in great shape and moving extremely well, playing above the rim after being previously seen as an undersized four who made up for athleticism with skill and a high basketball IQ. The 6-8 forward swatted shots away and threw down some vicious posters as a grab-and-go threat off the rebound. One of the most decorated players in high school basketball history, he wrote his name into the 12-member final roster with Sharpie after an unbelievable start in Colorado Springs. Peat just produces and contributes to winning, no question about it.

Last Updated on June 16, 2025

WWE has launched the fifth installment of its name, image, and likeness “Next In Line” program featuring 12 new collegiate athletes. This latest class features some familiar names that have etched their names in professional wrestling lore.

Leading the class is Jacob Henry, the son of WWE Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer Mark Henry. Henry made a name for himself as a renowned weightlifting superstar before transitioning into the WWE, where he set records and won awards at the national and international levels. Jacob is a member of both Oklahoma’s football and wrestling teams. 

Jacksonville State wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner is the son of WCW Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with his brother Rick. It is also worth noting that not only did the Steiner Brothers become one of the best tag team wrestling duos, but they also wrestled collegiately at the University of Michigan. 

UCF Junior linebacker TJ Bullard is the son of former WWE wrestler Titus O’Neil. O’Neill, whose real name is Thaddeus Bullard, had played football collegiately for the University of Florida. Thaddeus also serves as a Global Ambassador for the WWE. 

Colorado State’s senior defensive lineman, Hidetora Hanada, rounds out the football players in this class. Before his time on the gridiron, Hanada was an all-world Japanese Sumo wrestler. He even earned gold in the World Games in 2022. 

Next In Line continues to highlight collegiate talent across various sports. This class includes track and field athletes Meghan Walker (Nebraska), Kerrigan Huyh (University of Central Oklahoma), and Zuriel Jimenez (Columbia), as well as lacrosse standout Garrett Beck (Grand Canyon). In field hockey, Bianca Pizano (Michigan State), in women’s basketball, Fatima Katembo (LSU Shreveport) and Gina Adams (Lynn University), and in women’s ice hockey, Madison Kaiser (Minnesota). Collectively, this recent class demonstrates that the talent pipeline is more robust and diverse than ever for WWE, with the hope that these athletes will soon be entering the ring.

ESPN has released its College Football Future Power Rankings, consisting of the 68 Power 4 teams in college football. 

This is ESPN’s way of evaluating each program’s future with the ever-changing college athletics landscape. With all the changes, their future power rankings only hold up for the next two seasons, as it is nearly impossible to know how each team will look beyond 2026 with the constantly changing NIL and transfer portal. 

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg examined several variables for his power rankings: the returning quarterback, the likelihood of a multiyear QB on the roster, the offensive line/defensive line outlook, roster management, star power (All-Americans, national award contenders, all-conference contenders), and coaching staff. 

Tennessee checks some of these boxes, but after the fallout with Nico Iamaleava, there isn’t a clear future at quarterback, and the Vols don’t have a returning quarterback. Without those options, Tennessee is going to have to rely on its line play, roster management, star power, and coaching staff. 

Rittenberg shared the same concerns in his examination of Tennessee’s future. He ranked Tennessee the No. 9 program in college football and the No. 4 program in the SEC. 

That makes Tennessee fourth out of five SEC teams in the top ten. Texas holds the top spot at No. 1, Georgia ranks No. 3, LSU ranks No. 8, and SEC rival Alabama is at No. 10. Other SEC schools made the top 25, including Florida at No. 15, Ole Miss at No. 16, South Carolina at No. 18, and Missouri at No. 22. 

Star power and coaching staff are among the best categories for the Vols. Players have earned several awards in recent years, while the coaching staff has continuously developed their team and led the Vols to their first College Football Playoff appearance last season. 

“Star power: McCoy earned second-team All-SEC honors last season after sharing the team lead with four interceptions while adding a forced fumble,” Rittenberg writes. “Carter, Josephs, and other returning defenders should be all-conference contenders. 

“Coach Josh Heupel’s offense creates opportunities for stardom, which should help Aguilar, Thomas, the returning receivers, and other running backs like sophomores DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis. Moe was a second-team All-Pac 12 selection for Arizona in 2023.”

Tennessee is likely to have to rely on its defense again this year. As Rittenberg mentions, there is a lot of potential on the defensive side of the ball, with rising stars looking to break out on offense. 

The Vols’ coaching staff is another high point, as Heupel has put together a solid staff on both sides of the ball. Retaining defensive coordinator Tim Banks and linebackers coach William Inge have been vital to Tennessee’s defensive success and will continue to improve the Vols’ defense in the future. 

“Coaching staff: After leading Tennessee to its first playoff appearance, Heupel has exceeded most outside expectations with a 37-15 record in Knoxville. He brings back primary coordinators Tim Banks (defense) and Joey Halzle (offense), while making a few changes to the group of position coaches.”

Tennessee has the coaching staff and roster to be College Football Playoff contenders for years to come. How Heupel and the Vols manage NIL, and the transfer portal could determine how successful the Vols will be in the near future.

The Forgotten Heroes of College Football

In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has sparked a transformative shift, yet it has also cast a shadow over those who paved the way for today’s lucrative opportunities. For many former college football legends, this newfound financial freedom feels bittersweet, as they reflect on a time when their contributions to the sport went unrewarded.

The Legacy of Sacrifice

Terrence Cody, a two-time national champion under the legendary coach Nick Saban, stands at the forefront of this discussion. He embodies the spirit of a generation that helped cultivate college football into a billion-dollar industry, yet he and many of his contemporaries were denied the financial benefits that current athletes now enjoy. “We gave everything to the game, yet received nothing in return,” Cody emphasizes, highlighting the stark contrast between past and present.

For players like Cody, the sacrifices made during their collegiate careers were immense. They dedicated countless hours to training, competing, and representing their institutions, often at the expense of their personal lives and future prospects. Yet, as the NIL era dawned, these athletes were left to ponder what might have been had their talents been recognized and rewarded during their playing days.

A Missed Opportunity

The introduction of NIL rights has undoubtedly revolutionized college sports, allowing current athletes to capitalize on their fame and abilities. However, it also raises questions about equity and recognition for those who laid the groundwork. Many former players feel that their contributions have been overlooked in the rush to celebrate the current generation. The financial gains now available to student-athletes highlight a significant disparity, leaving many former stars wondering about the millions they missed out on.

Cody’s message serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging the past. The NCAA’s recent settlement discussions regarding athlete compensation reflect a growing awareness of these issues, but for many, it feels like too little, too late. The conversation around NIL should not only focus on the present but also honor the legacy of those who came before.

The Path Forward

As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, it is crucial for stakeholders—coaches, administrators, and fans—to recognize the contributions of past players. By fostering a culture that values the history of the sport, there is an opportunity to bridge the gap between generations of athletes.

Cody’s voice, along with those of his peers, calls for a more inclusive dialogue that acknowledges the sacrifices of former players while celebrating the successes of current athletes. It is a reminder that the story of college football is not just about the present, but also about the rich tapestry woven by those who played before.

Reflecting on the Journey

Ultimately, the emergence of NIL rights presents a chance to reshape the narrative surrounding college athletics. As the sport moves forward, it is essential to honor the legacy of past heroes while empowering the next generation. Terrence Cody’s reflections on the missed opportunities of yesteryear serve as both a cautionary tale and a call to action, urging all involved in the sport to ensure that the contributions of every athlete are recognized and valued.

In this ever-changing landscape, the challenge remains: how can we ensure that the sacrifices of those who came before are not forgotten as we celebrate the new era of college football? The answer lies in fostering a culture of respect and recognition, one that honors the past while embracing the future.