NIL

John Mateer, Fernando Mendoza and other top transfers to watch in 2026 NFL Draft class

When we first started monitoring the transfer portal back in 2018, the first few classes were relatively thin on NFL Draft talent. That is definitely no longer the case. The days of transfers mainly being backups who didn’t play enough are long over, and college football’s portal is now firmly in its full-blown free-agency era, […]

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4 weeks ago

June 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

John Mateer, Fernando Mendoza and other top transfers to watch in 2026 NFL Draft class

When we first started monitoring the transfer portal back in 2018, the first few classes were relatively thin on NFL Draft talent.

That is definitely no longer the case.

The days of transfers mainly being backups who didn’t play enough are long over, and college football’s portal is now firmly in its full-blown free-agency era, with quality starters at every position — including some with potential first-round draft grades — looking to better their situation (financially or otherwise).

Here’s a look at my favorite 2026 draft prospects from this offseason’s portal, by position.

Quarterback

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (from Cal)

2. John Mateer, Oklahoma (from Washington State)

3. Carson Beck, Miami (from Georgia)

4. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA (from Tennessee)

5. Miller Moss, Louisville (from USC)

This year featured the deepest and most talented collection of available college quarterbacks since the transfer portal became a thing.

It’s a tough group to sort right now, but Mendoza is my pick as the top transfer QB. The 6-foot-5, 221-pounder not only comes with ideal size and above-average athleticism but also terrific arm talent. The fit between Mendoza and Indiana coach Curt Cignetti looks like a terrific one, and Mendoza has enough ability to land a first-round draft grade.

Mateer reminds me of recent No. 1 pick Cam Ward, who also transferred from Washington State. It wouldn’t be a shock to see a breakout year from the Sooners’ new quarterback.

I’ve already heard some hand-wringing from Miami fans about why draft analysts seem to be down on Beck, two years after thinking he would be a first-rounder. Beck’s 2023 season — Georgia’s last with Brock Bowers — was very good; his 2024 season was less so. Beck is more athletic than people think, plays with good size and throws an accurate ball without fear over the middle, but he has also shown poor aptitude against pressure and inconsistency on vertical shots, and he’s not as quick in the pocket as his testing numbers may indicate. This will be an important year for him.

Running back

1. Makhi Hughes, Oregon (from Tulane)

2. Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma (from Cal)

3. Justice Haynes, Michigan (from Alabama)

4. Rahsul Faison, South Carolina (from Utah State)

5. CJ Donaldson, Ohio State (from West Virginia)

Hughes will make the big jump to Oregon this year after rushing for nearly 3,000 yards and 22 touchdowns combined the last two seasons at Tulane. A durable, tough, quick-footed bell cow with good vision and a willingness to block, Hughes (5-11, 210 pounds) is expected to take over for Jordan James inside the Ducks’ high-powered offense, and he could provide similar value. He’s also a legit pass protector who isn’t afraid to step into a blitzing linebacker.

Ott was high on scouting boards last summer before an ankle injury derailed his season. The 6-0, 210-pounder runs with elite burst and balance, and he offers great vision and big-play potential in the pass game.

Haynes, a former top-40 recruit, has as much talent as anyone on this list — he just never got a shot to show it at Alabama, where he had double-digit carries in just one game the last two seasons. He’ll have to earn it at Michigan, too, as talented sophomore Jordan Marshall figures to be his top backfield mate.

Wide Receiver

1. Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn (from Georgia Tech)

2. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (from Virginia)

3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (from N.C. State)

4. Zachariah Branch, Georgia (from USC)

5. Dane Key, Nebraska (from Kentucky)

There were a ton of high-end receivers in the portal, and this list also could have included Ole Miss’ De’Zhaun Stribling, Penn State’s Trebor Pena, Florida State’s Duce Robinson, LSU’s Barion Brown and several others.

Singleton, a Georgia state sprint champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters, has a second-level burst and shows zero fear (at 5-11, 190) as a confident ball tracker.

The 6-4, 220-pound Fields — a former QB — is extremely intriguing as a big, explosive target with reliable hands and great potential after the catch. He had 13 contested catches last season at Virginia.

Concepcion, a 20-year-old junior, is a crafty slot receiver who was great after the catch and used heavily in the sweep game at NC State. It’s a similar conversation for Branch, now at Georgia. The 5-10, 180-pound former five-star prospect comes to Athens with truly elite speed and averaged more than eight yards after the catch last season.

Tight end

1. Max Klare, Ohio State (from Purdue)

2. Jack Endries, Texas (from Cal)

3. Tanner Koziol, Houston (from Ball State)

4. Luke Hasz, Ole Miss (from Arkansas)

5. Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech (from Louisiana)

Klare and Endries are similar prospects. Both stand around 6-4, 240 and are versatile, three-down tight ends with strong hands, toughness and real upside in the run game. Endries is arguably a better blocker at this point, but Klare may have more long-term athletic potential as a route runner and after the catch.

The former broke out as a sophomore last season with 56 catches for 623 yards; the latter (seen in the clip below) had 51 grabs for 685 yards and four TDs.

Koziol, a 6-7, 237-pound former wide receiver, was a production machine last year at Ball State, finishing with 93 catches for 840 yards and three scores. A terrific athlete with a ridiculous catch radius, he made an FBS-best 26 contested catches.

Offensive line

1. Isaiah World, OT, Oregon (from Nevada)

2. Monroe Mills, OT, Virginia (from Louisville)

3. Elijah Pritchett, OT, Nebraska (from Alabama)

4. Luke Petitbon, C, Florida State (from Wake Forest)

5. Joshua Braun, G, Kentucky (from Arkansas)

A hulking 6-8, 312-pounder, World heads to Oregon after three years spent starting at left tackle for Nevada. A gigantic player with the movement skills of a former basketball player, World came to college at around 270 pounds but bulked up and had his best year last season. He looks like a top-100 talent and has a chance to improve his stock while playing against better competition this year.

Mills, meanwhile, is one of the rare four-team college players — he has made stops at Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Louisville and now Virginia, although he’s expected to miss the coming season because of an Achilles injury. We’ll see where the imposing 6-7, 320-pounder is at, health-wise, after the year.

Pritchett, a former top-40 recruit who started during his first year at Alabama last season, brings power and versatility to Nebraska’s front, albeit with the need to further prove himself on a big stage.

Edge

1. David Bailey, Texas Tech (from Stanford)

2. Patrick Payton, LSU (from Florida State)

3. Beau Atkinson, Ohio State (from North Carolina)

4. Romello Height, Texas Tech (from Georgia Tech)

5. Marvin Jones Jr., Oklahoma (from Florida State)

Bailey is a former top-40 recruit who plays with great speed, burst and length off the edge. He’s a bendy pass rusher who has no trouble dipping and turning the corner against larger tackles. One of Texas Tech’s many quality portal pulls, Bailey had a combined 22 1/2 sacks in three years at Stanford, mainly as a subpackage player.

Payton, meanwhile, had draft buzz entering the 2024 season after a breakout 2023. The 6-5, 255-pounder saw a production dip last year but has the potential to be a true three-down presence.

Atkinson (6-6, 265) is intriguing and put up 7 1/2 sacks and 25 pressures with 26 run stops last season, despite being a part-time rotational player. A long, rangy edge presence with power everywhere, Atkinson has put on nearly 30 pounds since high school.

Defensive tackle

1. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (from UCF)

2. Bernard Gooden, LSU (from USF)

3. David Gusta, Kentucky (from Washington State)

4. Bear Alexander, Oregon (from USC)

5. Keeshawn Silver, USC (from Kentucky)

Hunter is a fridge on wheels. The 6-4, 325-pounder had dominant flashes inside during each of his past two seasons at UCF, making more than 50 tackles in 2023 alone and combining for 49 pressures during those two years. Big and powerful enough to eat space as a nose tackle, Hunter can make plays on the ball well outside his square in ways few 320-pounders can.

Gooden (6-1, 280) is undersized but can move and run like a linebacker — he’s athletic with great flexibility and burst. He played mainly as a three-tech last season at South Florida but also has spent a ton of time over the tackle as a heavy edge, despite his size.

From a pure talent standpoint, Alexander might have an argument for the top spot on this list. However, he has also shown little consistency during stops at Georgia and USC. If he can put it together, we’ll see his stock soar.

Linebacker

1. Amare Campbell, Penn State (from North Carolina)

2. Mohamed Toure, Miami (from Rutgers)

3. Kendal Daniels, Oklahoma (from Oklahoma State)

4. James Djonkam, Virginia Tech (from Eastern Michigan)

5. Nikhai Hill-Green, Alabama (from Colorado)

A rangy, explosive athlete who made 76 tackles (10 1/2 for loss) and 6 1/2 sacks last season, Campbell should be able to immediately step into a starting role for Jim Knowles at Penn State. Fast enough to run with tight ends in the slot and twitchy enough to beat offensive linemen at the point of attack, Campbell is a great blitzer and boasts big-time potential as a junior.

Toure missed all of last season with an ACL injury (the second of his college career) but still served as Rutgers’ team captain after an outstanding 93-tackle, 4 1/2-sack 2023 season. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a great addition for Miami — and give scouts a chance to re-evaluate where he’s at as a prospect.

Secondary

1. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (from Purdue)

2. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (from Virginia Tech)

3. Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss (from Marshall)

4. DJ Harvey, USC (from San Jose State)

5. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington (from Arizona)

One of the country’s best players on a bad team each of the last two seasons, Thieneman (a true junior) was Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023, with six interceptions and eight forced incompletions. He followed that up with eight forced incompletions and six pass breakups last season. A do-it-all safety, he can play deep, in the box or in the slot and doesn’t miss many tackles.

One of the best players in the country, Thieneman will have top-30 buzz entering the 2025 season.

One half of a great Virginia Tech duo, alongside Dorian Strong, Delane had a career-best four interceptions and 51 tackles last season — and probably would’ve been drafted had he declared. He didn’t quite have the year many anticipated he would in 2024 (he was Dane Brugler’s No. 5 corner last summer), but he still has the size (6-1, 190) and potential to be a truly consistent corner in man or zone.

(Top photo of John Mateer: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)

NIL

Gonzaga to participate in new revenue sharing model

Gonzaga has officially entered the new era of college athletics. Gonzaga and the other eight full-time members of the West Coast Conference — Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Pacific — have decided to participate in the new revenue sharing model that’s been implemented for the 2025-26 academic […]

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8 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Gonzaga has officially entered the new era of college athletics.

Gonzaga and the other eight full-time members of the West Coast Conference — Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Pacific — have decided to participate in the new revenue sharing model that’s been implemented for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the College Sports Commission, the new organization in charge of overseeing NIL deals.

Starting July 1, schools that opted into the new revenue-sharing model spelled out in the landmark House v. NCAA settlement are allowed to share up to $20.5 million per academic year directly with their student-athletes. While a majority of institutions aren’t expected to reach that number, those in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC plan on it, with football players likely to receive a majority of the funds.

According to the College Sports Commission — assigned to facilitate and regulate NIL deals in the wake of the House settlement — schools outside the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC will have the option to opt in to or out of revenue sharing each year. That’s significant for Gonzaga and the other future members of the Pac-12, as the league’s standing in the college sports hierarchy has been in limbo for roughly a year now. The College Sports Commission’s announcement is the closest the Pac-12 has come to being mentioned as an autonomy conference since the league lost 10 members to the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12, reducing its count to just Washington State and Oregon State for one more season before welcoming seven new schools to the mix in 2026.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Utah State and Texas State join Oregon State and Washington State to form a new-look Pac-12 conference on July 1, 2026. All nine schools opted into the revenue-sharing plan for this season.

Seattle U, which is set to become a WCC member in 2026, has also opted into the revenue-sharing plan heading into its final season as part of the Western Athletic Conference.

The revenue-sharing cap is expected to increase by around 4% — about $1 million — each year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, ending at an estimated $32.9 million in 2034-35.

MORE GONZAGA NEWS & ANALYSIS

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Notre Dame is a top spender, but not close to the top in an On3 survey

College football has made a huge evolution over the past few years with the adaptation of Name, Image and Likeness, with more teams opening up the pocketbooks for players, something that Notre Dame has been a bit reluctant to do. Yes, many of the Irish players have NIL deals, and are getting paid a good […]

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26 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Yes, many of the Irish players have NIL deals, and are getting paid a good amount to play in South Bend, but according to a survey done by On3’s Pete Nakos (subscription required), Notre Dame is not near the top of the biggest spenders list in the sport. The highest was Texas, followed by Texas Tech (who has gotten more than a few commitment from players that previously wouldn’t have considered them), Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M.

The Irish are on the list, but tied for No. 17, meaning they don’t spend nearly as much as some of the other schools across the country. Multiple teams in the top-10 didn’t even make the College Football Playoff last year, like Texas Tech, the Aggies, Miami, USC, Michigan and Auburn.

It goes to show you that Notre Dame isn’t just throwing around NIL funds, they’re recruiting players who they believe will utilize everything that the program has to offer, which is clearly more in future earnings than in the present.

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The brave new world of NIL in college sports

Published

27 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

If you liked NIL money and its ugly stepsister, the Transfer Portal, you are going to love Revenue Sharing for college student athletes.
Remember the golden days of long ago when college players stayed at their schools long enough for fans of other schools to hate them? What Carolina fan did not enjoy wishing missed free throws on Dook’s Bobby Hurley or Christian Laettner? It was a wonderful part of basketball.
But on 1 July, 2021, all that delightful ill will ended when NIL came into effect.
Some background info about NIL and the Transfer Portal. For those who came in late, NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness for college players. They are officially allowed to be paid by third parties for endorsements, sponsorships, and business ventures.
Before NIL, none of these activities had ever occurred at any college. Not one. All colleges played by the same rules. Coincidentally, I have a bridge I would like to sell you.
Some soreheads contend that NIL stands for “Now It’s Legal.” The Transfer Portal is where college players go at the end of each season to auction off their talents to the highest bidder. School loyalty is a moldy artifact of the past. Money talks and everybody walks to the next school. It is hard to remember their names after one season when they are one and done, gone on to another school or the NBA.
The newest plan to turn college sports into free-range pro teams is Revenue Sharing. Colleges can now pay players in addition to third-party NIL money. Ponder what this portends.
UNC’s esteemed Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham issued a statement regarding what Revenue Sharing will mean for the Tar Heels.
Author’s Note: Bubba will soon be kicked upstairs to make room for a new UNC Athletic Director who has a 15-year background in NASCAR marketing.
Here is what Bubba sez: UNC will pay $20.5 million each year to athletes with most of it going to the revenue-generating sports of men’s football and basketball.
“Women’s basketball and baseball players are receiving some revenue share, as well.”
“ Some” in this context means “a whole lot less.” The cap on the number of scholarships is removed with UNC increasing all sports scholarships from 338 to 532 paid positions. The sports budget at UNC will increase from $150 million to about $180 million next year. That is a lot of bucks. From whence shall these dollars arise?
Funny you should ask about money? UNC recently appointed a new Money Czar with the colorful title of Chief Revenue Officer “to investigate and initiate new revenue opportunities, including naming rights, field sponsorships and jersey patches… More aggressive ticket sales initiatives (higher prices). Additional funding allocated by the State of NC from gambling revenues may also assist our efforts.” {Emphasis Added)
What does this mean in English? Lots of cool stuff coming down the pike to raise bucks. Naming rights mean the Bank of America-Tar Heel football team may be playing on the Preparation H Hemorrhoid Cream Field in the beautiful Tidy Bowl-Kenan Stadium.
Companies will jump at the chance to sponsor football penalties announced to TV audiences such as the Clearasil Acne Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Tampax illegal block in the back, Raid Roach Killer Roughing the Kicker, Charmin Toilet Paper illegal formation, Ex-Lax False Start, d-Con Rodent Killer Holding Penalty, and the Old Spice Antiperspirant Personal Foul.
Imagine the thrill of watching the Heels play basketball in the Weed Eater-Dean Dome! Basketball penalties offer similar sponsorship opportunities. Could we hear calls for the Oral-B Flagrant Foul, the Chanel Number 5 Fragrant foul, the Equate Flushable Wet Wipes Double Dribble, the Ozempic Traveling Penalty, or the Draft Kings 5 Second Inbounds Violation? The possibilities are endless.
Jersey patches on football players and basketball players are going to be a thing of beauty. The Heels will end up looking like NASCAR drivers with patches for Camel Cigarettes, Champion Spark Plugs, Bud Light beer, Smirnoff Vodka, etc., covering their baby blue uniforms. Pure class.
The most exciting thing is Bubba’s passing mention that the Tar Heels may end up getting Gambling Money from the State. What could go wrong? Gamblers never try to fix games. If you are older than dirt, you might remember the old Dixie Classic Basketball tournament back in the ‘50s when UNC, Dook, Wake Forest, and NC State played 4 really good out-of-state teams. It ended ingloriously when players were caught shaving points. Of course, that could never happen again.
Bring on the Fan Duel NIL sponsorship of players. Place bets at your seats. It’s gonna be yuge.

(Illustration by Pitt Dickey)

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Have NIL Deals Affected the MLB Draft for the Hokies?

NIL (name, image, and likeness) is in front of our eyes, transforming the world of college sports. Whether you agree or disagree with NIL, collegiate athletes have a tougher choice when deciding between college and the pros nowadays. On July 1, 2021, the NCAA announced an interim policy that allowed college athletes to profit off […]

Published

58 minutes ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On July 1, 2021, the NCAA announced an interim policy that allowed college athletes to profit off their NIL rights. This transitioned a step further with the House v. NCAA settlement on June 6, 2025, officially enabling universities to pay their athletes directly and removing the scholarship limit. Part of the settlement resulted in a trimming of baseball roster sizes from 40 to 34, but it now means that more of those players can be under scholarship.

Larger universities with better outreach and more NIL opportunities can use this as a selling point in landing many high school recruits. This gives the new incoming class of recruits expectations of what they can earn while playing in college — while at the same time developing their game at a collegiate level and obtaining an education while enrolled.

During interviews at the combine that MLB organizations hold with prospects, players now have the leverage of naming their price based on what they would earn in college. Organizations can then decide if a prospect is worth the pick value.

Before the draft each season, MLB announces slot values for each draft slot. That is the maximum amount of money a particular draft pick can earn based on their selection. Compared to last season, according to MLB.com, the average pick’s value has increased by 4.8% from 2024. The number one pick in 2025 is now worth a slot value of $11,075,900.

Every selection in the first 10 rounds has an assigned slot value, the lowest being pick number 315 at a slot value of $187,300, a high value that even the most prestigious baseball NIL deals cannot match.

The highest NIL baseball deal is with the No. 4 overall draft pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Ethan Holliday. With his NIL deal not reaching the seven-digit count, and the Rockies slot value for the selection being $8,770,900 — leaving an obvious route for the talented prospect.

Baseball America’s Kyle Bandujo interviewed former Oklahoma State and Brewers minor league pitcher Jonathan Perrin for insight about NIL deals:

“This also affects the draft decision for high school prospects. Initially at the onset of the NIL era, some draft-eligible players were asking for higher figures to sign because they had NIL leverage. But the increased age of Power 4 rosters could lead some players to opt for the clearer developmental path of pro ball.

“It’s really hard for freshman right now to get playing time, especially at P4 schools. Agents and parents are starting to realize that, ‘Wait a second, if my end goal is to get to the big leagues, what is the best opportunity to make that happen?’

“That $150,000 bonus is not what it used to be. There are a lot of kids in college baseball this year who are going to make more than that … If you’re getting $150K to go play for the Royals, and Arkansas or LSU are paying you $250K to stay here, I can’t speak for everybody, but I’m going back to school in that situation.”

The Hokies have seen two commits in both the 2024 and 2025 draft fall and go undrafted after landing in the mid-100s on many draft prospect boards. Catcher Anderson French dodged the draft in 2024 and joined Tech’s 2025 roster, just as pitcher Ethan Grim will do this year. This comes despite Grim’s invite to the 2025 MLB Draft Combine.

Baseball NIL deals cannot rival those of college football, with numerous athletes comfortably bringing in deals worth seven figures. With the final 10 rounds of the MLB Draft having no slot value, these contracts are closer to the average rookie-ball contract, closer to the average NIL baseball agreement at a Power 4 university.

For players in farm organization complex leagues up to low single-A action, contracts on average range from $4,800 upwards of $26,200, leaving little leverage for athletes wanting to compete at a P4 level.

Signing bonuses play a factor in whether athletes make the decision to venture into the professional landscape. With a favorable signing bonus and access to professional development strategies, athletes may still be eager to test the waters in the minor leagues.

With the current value of MLB selections and the current NIL deal market, for most P4 programs, athletes outside of the top 10 rounds will likely receive the same value for either choice, making the option more personal: either trusting in one’s self in the professional circuit, or holding back and developing alongside other college athletes in the hopes of raising draft stock.

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Paul Finebaum emphatically pushes back on Brian Kelly hot seat talk: ‘Read my lips, that is not happening’

LSU finished shy of its ultimate goal of qualifying for the College Football Playoff in 2024. After a promising start to the season, many fans were disappointed with the Tigers’ 9-4 finish last year. It marked the first time in three seasons that Brian Kelly hadn’t led LSU to a 10-win season. Given his reputation […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LSU finished shy of its ultimate goal of qualifying for the College Football Playoff in 2024. After a promising start to the season, many fans were disappointed with the Tigers’ 9-4 finish last year.

It marked the first time in three seasons that Brian Kelly hadn’t led LSU to a 10-win season. Given his reputation as one of the longtime successful coaches in the sport — it wouldn’t come as a surprise that some fans are getting impatient in Baton Rouge. SEC Network host Paul Finebaum doesn’t see Kelly on any time of hot seat, however.

“Read my lips, that is not happening,” Finebaum said during an appearance on McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning. “What has happened is that, because of who he is and where he came from, people expect instant success, which is fine, that’s expected of everyone at that level. And I think most would agree, including Brian Kelly, that last year was a setback.

“I mean, there were some games when they just looked miserable, notably the Alabama game, other games, Texas A&M in the second half. So I think because of this, because of who he is, people are going to say, well, he hasn’t gone to the playoffs.”

Kelly’ Tigers are coming off a 2024 season in which LSU jumped out to a 6-1 start, which saw them win six straight after dropping the season opener. The Tigers looked to be in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff before three consecutive losses in SEC play hindered their postseason bid.

LSU ended up finishing the season with a 9-4 record during quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s first season as starting quarterback. However, his numbers were among the best in the SEC last season. Nussmeier is expected to lead the high-powered LSU offense to great heights in 2025. There are still questions surrounding the defense, but all signs point toward the Tigers being in the mix in 2025.

Additionally, Kelly and his staff have pieced together the No. 2 overall transfer portal class this offseason. LSU also has the No. 9 incoming recruiting class, so there is expected to be no shortage of talent throughout Kelly’s roster this season.

The Tigers will kick off regular season action on the road against the Clemson Tigers during Week 1. LSU’s highly-anticipated true road game is set for Aug. 30, and Clemson is an early favorite to win the matchup according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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Former Standout Linebacker Kwiatkoski Giving Back to His Alma Mater

Story Links MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Nick Kwiatkoski never expected to become an NFL player when he signed to play with West Virginia University in 2011, but circumstances can sometimes change. Kwiatkoski believes the growth and development that he made during his five years spent at WVU helped turn him into the person […]

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2 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Nick Kwiatkoski never expected to become an NFL player when he signed to play with West Virginia University in 2011, but circumstances can sometimes change.

Kwiatkoski believes the growth and development that he made during his five years spent at WVU helped turn him into the person he’s become today, and consequently, he feels compelled to give something back to the place that has done so much for him.

Working with Kyle Poland and John Patterson in the Mountaineer Athletic Club, Kwiatkoski recently made a significant leadership gift to the football program that now places him in the Summit Society – WVU athletics’ philanthropic giving group which recognizes donors making transformational gifts to help impact Mountaineer athletics.

For Kwiatkoski, it was about helping a place that really helped him during an important time in his life.

“I had a blast during my time there,” he said recently. “I never expected to get a Division I offer and when I arrived at West Virginia, I wasn’t one of those guys who was saying, ‘I’m going to go to the NFL.’ I was just happy to be there when I got on campus, and just going through (strength and conditioning coach) Mike Joseph‘s program in the weight room it brought out a side of me I didn’t know I had.

“I grew tremendously as a player in the weight room, mentally, and in the film room. That time there was huge part of my life and helped me grow into the football player I became and just the person that I became,” Kwiatkoski admitted. “Once you get there, the time you put in before you leave is a huge chunk of your life.”

A native of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, Kwiatkoski falls into the category of overlooked and underappreciated Pittsburgh area players who made a name for themselves at nearby West Virginia. Standouts such as Major Harris, Mike Logan, Marc Bulger and Charles Fisher were outstanding Steel City area players who, for one reason or another, didn’t attract much interest from Pitt.

Kwiatkoski’s personal story is very similar to theirs.

“Growing up, (the top) guys from the WPIAL were going to Pitt,” he recalled. “Their facilities were 15 minutes down the road from me and there weren’t too many guys going to West Virginia from Pittsburgh.

“You have a lot of great football schools in this area and, of course, high school football is huge, too. Growing up in Pittsburgh, you saw the Flying WV around some, but it was definitely outweighed by Pitt and Penn State.”

Penn State’s Tom Bradley once made a visit to his high school, but it was West Virginia that saw his potential. Kwiatkoski got a call one day from Mountaineer assistant coach Dave McMichael and soon he handed Kwiatkoski off to assistant coaches Jeff Casteel and Steve Dunlap.

After a good junior season that included a place on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Preseason Fabulous 22 List, Kwiatkoski suffered a back injury and missed the first two months of his senior season. Once he called Casteel to commit to West Virginia, the Mountaineers continued to remain committed to him after his injury.

Then, when Dana Holgorsen took over the Mountaineer program in 2011, Kwiatkoski was among the group of talented football players gifted to him from Bill Stewart’s staff.

Kwiatkoski played for three different defensive coordinators during his college career, finishing up with Tony Gibson in 2015. His best season came in 2014 as a junior when he made 103 total tackles and had 11 ½ tackles for losses while playing outside linebacker.

His four-year totals include 303 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, six interceptions and two sacks, while demonstrating the versatility on special teams desired by pro scouts.

“I played multiple positions at West Virginia and went through a handful of coordinators, from Joe DeForrest to Keith Patterson to Tony Gibson,” Kwiatkoski recalled.

“I played a few different schemes at West Virginia. I was recruited by Coach Casteel to play in the 3-3-5 as a safety, and oddly enough, I think those two years with Coach DeForrest and Coach Patterson it was kind of a multiple 3-4 defense, which is ultimately what I ended up playing a lot during my NFL career. Then it was back to the 3-3-5 with Gibbie during my senior year,” he explained. “Playing different positions and different schemes definitely helped me gain an overall understanding of defenses.”

Following his senior year in 2015, Kwiatkoski was invited to play in the Senior Bowl and then after the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the Chicago Bears selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft as the 113^thoverall pick.

However, Kwiatkoski’s rookie season with the Bears got off to an inauspicious start. He injured his hamstring during the first day of full pads and missed most of training camp. Although he signed a four-year, $2.91 million contract, only the signing bonus portion of it was guaranteed.

“As a rookie, you are going into a completely new environment, and you see guys get cut all the time. For me, I was pretty confident I was going to make the team, but there was some uncertainty there until week one,” he recalled.

“You are watching good players get let go and you are standing there on the sidelines watching, so it was definitely a sense of doubt,” Kwiatkoski admitted. “I didn’t know how anything worked, and the roster is getting cut down every day.”

But he made the team and ended up starting seven games during his rookie season in 2016. A year later, Pro Football Focus rated Kwiatkoski the league’s third-best inside linebacker in run-stop percentage, and he continued to be an important contributor on the Bears’ defense until signing a lucrative three-year free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020.

He played two full seasons with the Raiders, another with the Atlanta Falcons and was in Pittsburgh’s training camp in 2023 when he was released.

Although Kwiatkoski has never officially submitted his retirement papers to the NFL, he says he is pretty much done with pro football.

“There are things I wished would have gone differently here and there, but overall, I enjoyed my career, and it was more than I ever expected when I went to college at West Virginia,” he noted. “I feel like I got what I wanted out of it and for seven years, I had a blast, honestly.”

Kwiatkoski has enough service time to receive an NFL pension, so he said he’s taking his time to consider what he wants to do next with his life.

His permanent residence is in Las Vegas, and he also owns an apartment in Pittsburgh where he frequently spends his time with family and friends.

“I’m enjoying retirement right now,” he says. “I feel great physically. Thank God I had no major, major injuries. It was all minor stuff, so overall, I feel great.

“I want to do something I enjoy,” he adds. “It would be great to remain close to football, but in my mind that’s not a need. I’m still trying to figure that out. It’s not like I’m looking for something and can’t find it, but more so finding the right thing.”

Up until the time he was released by the Steelers, football was a year-round proposition for a good portion of his life.

“Last year was the first year I didn’t go to a training camp,” he pointed out. “After Pittsburgh let me go, I still trained every day, and I kept in shape last year, but I’d be lying if I told you I was working out as hard as I would if I was going to training camp.”

Today, Kwiatkoski has more time to follow his favorite college team. He said he’s encouraged with the direction the Mountaineer program is taking under Rich Rodriguez, whom he met for the first time earlier this summer.

It was Rodriguez’s success in the mid-2000s that got Kwiatkoski interested in West Virginia football in the first place.

“I’m excited,” he said. “I got to spend some time with Rich Rod a few weeks ago when they had a camp, and I crossed paths with a lot of guys on his staff. It’s encouraging to see them put it out there on the field.

“I’ve gotten to know Pat White and some of the other former players and that’s something I love about West Virginia,” Kwiatkoski continued. “I feel like among the players, past, present and future, somehow relationships are built with the guys. I remember when I was playing for the Raiders and Pat was coaching with the Chargers and just seeing him after games and talking to him. There is always that West Virginia tie that bring players and coaches together.

“Kyzir White, when he was with the Chargers, we would talk after games, and I also got to play against Tavon (Austin) once or twice. I traded jerseys with some of the West Virginia guys, and I have those in my house in Vegas.”

Kwiatkoski admits he is still wrapping his arms around the business nature of college sports these days, but he understands the importance of supporting his alma mater.

Fortunately, he is in a financial position to do so.

“(WVU) had such a big impact on me as a football player and as a person,” Kwiatkoski explained. “There was a lot of uncertainty when I arrived on campus with my injury, and then for them to stick with me, I turned into an NFL player while I was there, mentally and physically. I owe a lot for that.

“With the state of college football these days, it’s always good to give back and help them build what they’re trying to build, whatever that may be,” he said. “I don’t know all of the ins and outs today and I’m curious to sit down and learn more about it.”

Kwiatkoski indicated the details of his contribution are still being worked out.

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