Linebacker Tyler Atkinson remains uncommitted for his college football school. However, while the five-star senior from Grayson is still discerning for home, his NIL potential will skyrocket if he continues to play at a high level.

Speaking of which, the Class of 2026’s best linebacker addressed the issue revolving name, image, and likeness deals. He shared two perspectives about NIL in his recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast.

Atkinson shared with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and fellow five-star prospect Chris Henry Jr., “If you come in the mindset of ‘Oh, I’m good’ and get comfortable, now you’re going to have everybody that was under you pass you because now you’re comfortable and think you already made it when you ain’t make it.”

This is the mentality that inspires Tyler Atkinson to continually work hard. During his junior year, he had 77 solo tackles, 32 tackles for losses, 46 hurries, and 13 sacks for Grayson. His impact helped the Rams finish with a 14-1 record, composed of 14 consecutive victories after their season-opening one-point loss to Collins Hill.

More importantly, Atkinson was instrumental in helping Grayson win the Georgia High School Association Class 6A state championship over Carrolton. In that game, Atkinson had 13 total tackles, four hurries, two passes defended, and two sacks.

Meanwhile, Tyler Atkinson added about NIL, “But if you get the mindset when you get all this money and you start investing into it and just put on to the side and stay focused and stay locked in, the real money is when you get in the NFL.”

Atkinson is careful with choosing a school because of one important reason

The Grayson linebacker is one of the five uncommitted prospects in the Class of 2026 top ten. Given his unbelievable talent, he received offers from over 40 college football programs, including his home state team Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson, Auburn, Ohio State, and Alabama, among others.

However, he’s taking his time with his decision because he wants to maintain good relations with recruiters and coaches. Atkinson said, “I’m just figuring out the relationship piece and is this scheme right for me. Relationships go a long way. Say, I wouldn’t just come here and tell you these top schools and make a school feel a certain way.”

His reason for keeping peace with these people? “Because you want to always keep relationships because this coach might end up at that school where you’re at or might end up in the pros. So, I ain’t break it down yet because when I break it down, I’m going to do it the right way.”

While the waiting game for Tyler Atkinson’s commitment continues, the victorious school will be getting a player committed to excellence.

Texas Tech superstar NiJaree Canady made headlines last year when she became the first $1 million softball player. Well, she’s now done it again.

Canady has signed another seven-figure NIL contract with the Texas Tech-focused NIL collective, The Matador Club, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed. She will make at least $1.2 million in her Year 2 deal.

The news comes as Texas Tech is currently embroiled in the Women’s College World Series Final with Texas. The Red Raiders dropped the opening game 2-1, but bounced back on Thursday night and evened the series with a 4-3 win.

Oregon State defensive back Trey Glasper (19) lines up against defensive back Jalil Tucker (22) during warmups of the Oregon State Spring football scrimmage at Reser Stadium on April 19, 2025. (John Lariviere/Portland Tribune)

House Bill 3694 is back in the news. But while the state has again approved the newly amended bill, its purpose remains little more than a symptom of what continues to be a big problem for what’s no longer your dad or granddad’s collegiate sport.

If you’re unfamiliar with House Bill 3694, allow me to give you the Cliff’s Notes explanation as to what it is, along with what it hopes to accomplish.

In a nutshell, the bill protects NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) contracts from public disclosure and will allow universities like the University of Oregon and Oregon State University to pay athletes directly, opposed to under the ruse of services rendered.

The bill was originally passed earlier this year but was amended prior to the June 2 Oregon Senate vote, with the amendment removing language which would have restricted athletes from signing NIL deals for “alcohol, drugs, gambling, firearms, sexual entertainment, hate speech, violence, or other topics prohibited by the higher education institution.”

Said amendment allegedly stemmed from concerns over First Amendment rights infringement.

So, bring on the weed, booze and strip club endorsements for our college athletes who while previously destitute, can now eat three square meals due to the money that’s now on the table opposed to under it.

If you sense a cynical tone, you’re not wrong.

I’ve never been a proponent of the pay-for-play model we’re currently living under, for the very reasons we’re now seeing come to fruition.

People can scream from the rooftops about the benefits of NIL, but the now famously mainstream acronym is nothing more than a legal conduit used to launder what was previously dirty booster money.

NIL was supposed to offer athletes the option of benefitting financially from the use of their names, image and likeness. But for every commercial or product you see either featuring or promoting a college athlete, I’ll show you a hundred more of those athletes who are just cashing a check or checks from “collectives” assigned to allocate the money raised by alumni to buy talent.

While technically above board, it’s not what was originally intended regarding NIL, and House Bill 3694 will simply allow schools to cut to the chase when it comes to coercing…errrr…enticing athletes to wear their favorite school’s colors.

Oregon’s not alone in their endeavor, in fact, other states have already passed such or similar legislation and it’s this state’s contention that HB 3694 is merely protection for the Ducks, Beavers, Pilots and Vikings when it comes to “keeping up with the Jones.’” But I’d argue the problem is not keeping up, but rather the idea that you have to by way of a system that managed to go from bad to worse.

While I’m no fan of what we’re now seeing regarding the millions of dollars colleges are using to buy recruits, I was behind the idea of getting the athletes more in a world of college athletics that was getting richer by the day.

Yes, contrary to what’s become popular belief, I maintain that a scholarship is exceptionally valuable, and the world class coaching and training athletes receive while part of a college football, softball, basketball or any other athletic program is invaluable to their endeavor during and beyond their time on campus.

But “advocates” for the kids have and continue to tell you there’s no value in a free education, despite the millions of kids hamstrung by six figures of student loan debt who’d argue otherwise.

But at the same time, what and how much the athletes were getting in return was antiquated, and “more” was certainly a reasonable response in the wake of years of rising revenue generated from the games getting more popular by the day.

Yet, what we now have versus what should be can’t be one in the same, and HB3694 is nothing more than a counteraction to a flawed and unsustainable system.

Do I have an issue with HB3694? I mean, not really. After-all, it’s in all likelihood a necessary evil in what’s become the wild wild west. But I have, do and will continue to take umbrage with the people that made it a necessity, and the asinine system they nonsensically adopted to further compensate the athletes worthy of something more.

The legislation isn’t the problem, it’s the lack of such. Can we vote on that?

Class of 2026 combo guard Isaac Ellis has committed to South Carolina, he told On3.

The 6-foot-0 rising senior of Moravian Prep (NC) is the younger brother of four-star shooting guard and Gamecocks signee Eli Ellis.

Isaac is unranked nationally, but is considered a three-star prospect according to On3. Along with South Carolina, he also received offers from Oklahoma State, Murray State, Indiana State, UMass, Radford, High Point, and others.

Ellis had a strong junior season with OTE, averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

Isaac has built a massive social media presence, with over 1.5 million combined followers on TikTok and Instagram.

Ellis on his commitment to South Carolina

Isaac Ellis went in-depth on his commitment to South Carolina with On3.

“I chose South Carolina because of the belief they had in me. They were the first high major to offer me and they have stayed in contact with me very consistently!”

What role did his brother, Eli Ellis, play in his decision?

“I think he supported me the most and told me to choose what was the best fit for me and that end up being South Carolina. And being in the SEC with my brother is a situation I would have never guessed would be possible, but we are here so it’s a blessing.”

In his own words, what type of player is South Carolina getting in Isaac Ellis?

“I’m a player that is gonna do whatever it takes to win, if it’s guarding the best player and scoring 0 points or if it’s being the main guy running sets and bringing the ball up. Whatever it takes to win, I will do.”

He has a message for South Carolina fans.

“South Carolina fans! Get ready for the best BROTHER duo in college basketball. A lot of threes and a lot of winning!”

Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player to land a $1 million name, image and likeness contract, has signed another seven-figure deal to return to the Red Raiders next year, a source briefed on the deal confirmed.

Canady’s deal is north of $1 million, the source said. The Wall Street Journal first reported her new deal.

About a year ago, the Matador Club, the Red Raiders NIL collective, paid Canady $1,050,024 to leave Stanford and head to Lubbock, Texas, for one year. The $24 was for Canady’s jersey number, with $50,000 for living expenses and $1 million for Canady.

The deal has paid off for the Red Raiders, who will play Texas in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series championship series Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Canady has thrown every pitch — 495 of them — for the Red Raiders in Oklahoma City and has emerged as the face of college softball. Her trademark footstomp celebration — dubbed the “Nija stomp” — has made its way to T-shirts, and Tech alum and Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes was in attendance to watch her pitch in Game 2 on Thursday.

In that game, Canady stopped a Longhorns’ comeback attempt to even the WCWS and force a Game 3, stranding the potential tying run on third in a 4-3 win. The junior ace cruised through the first six innings but faltered early in the seventh. With Texas threatening in the top of the inning, having climbed back from a 4-1 hole to bring the game within a score of being tied, Canady faced hitter Kayden Henry with two outs and a runner on third. But Canady delivered three straight rise balls on the outside corner to strike out Henry and ice the game.

Canady shut down Texas for most of Wednesday’s Game 1 loss, until Texas’ Reese Atwood won it with a two-run single in the sixth inning after a gutsy swing on what was supposed to be an intentional walk. It was a series of pitches Canady called a “mistake.”

NiJaree Canady closes out the win for @TexasTechSB!

A winner-takes-all Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series awaits tomorrow night

(: @ESPN) pic.twitter.com/eGHqLwpHSt

— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2025

Canady’s 0.97 ERA is best in Division I, and her 317 strikeouts (in 239 innings) rank second.

At Stanford, Canady won USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year award and led the program to two straight WCWS appearances.

If Canady leads Texas Tech to a Game 3 win, it will be her and the program’s first WCWS title. And now, she’s set to run it back in 2026.

(Photo: Brett Rojo / Imagn Images)