NIL
Mandel’s Mailbag: The NFL rejected the Sanders firestorm. Is that the difference between CFB and NFL?
I’ve long been one of the few writers covering college football who have little interest in the NFL Draft. And this year, I was particularly apathetic going in, due mostly to the uninspiring class of quarterbacks. But then Shedeur Sanders kept dropping, and suddenly I got sucked in like everybody else. The most interesting angle […]

I’ve long been one of the few writers covering college football who have little interest in the NFL Draft. And this year, I was particularly apathetic going in, due mostly to the uninspiring class of quarterbacks.
But then Shedeur Sanders kept dropping, and suddenly I got sucked in like everybody else.
The most interesting angle of the Shedeur Sanders saga was the NFL rejecting the media firestorm that comes with him and his dad, which is ironic, because Colorado craved that attention! Is that not the biggest difference between college and the NFL? One has dozens of teams starved for coverage while the other has more media coverage than it wants or needs, and wanted no part of a good, though not great player, because of it? — Benjamin D.
In college, unless you’re one of a dozen or so blue bloods, you’re perpetually fighting for national relevance. Especially in a sport in which the players get to choose their teams. Everyone’s looking for that differentiating factor. And Colorado was about as irrelevant as any power-conference program in the country by the end of the 2022 season.
Say what you will about Deion Sanders. He has done exactly what he was hired to do and then some: He’s made Colorado one of the most-covered, highest-viewed programs in the country pretty much all by himself. And Colorado has unabashedly embraced the Sanders family because it’s been so good for business.
But the same hoopla that’s been so good for Colorado apparently had the opposite effect on NFL decision-makers. Personally, I have no problem with Deion’s unique individuality and the way his players embrace it. And if this were basketball, the NBA might be fine with it, too. No one avoided the Ball brothers because they didn’t want to deal with their Dad.
But they call the NFL “The Shield” for a reason. The league is built around conformity. You do things the NFL’s way, or no way. There have certainly been brash stars to pass through it, but they didn’t yet have those brands coming out of college. They abided by the same draft process as everyone else.
Shedeur, by all accounts, did not. He blew off the Senior Bowl, didn’t work out at the NFL Scouting Combine and, according to all the anonymous scouts and GMs, showed up to interviews with teams as if they were recruiting him. If he were a sure-fire top-5 pick, I’m sure teams would have overlooked all of it. But if teams were uncertain he could even be a starter, I see why they’d pass.
For what it’s worth, I thought Shedeur was a very good quarterback at CU. Somehow, in the 4,987 hours pundits spent discussing him last weekend, I did not once hear anyone mention that he put up all those big stats despite having absolutely no pass protection for much of his two seasons. I’m sure that affected his tape.
There’s some talk about how Quinn Ewers probably lost money by entering the draft instead of transferring and taking name, image and likeness money. What if the cash is the same? If a player (hypothetically) knew he would get $1M from the NFL or $1M in NIL, what’s the argument for staying in school, and what’s the argument for going pro? — Michael M.
That would depend on a lot of factors specific to each person. If a college football player comes back, does he have a chance to significantly raise his draft stock? The difference between a first-round selection and a fourth-round selection is a lot more than $1 million. What position does he play? Will there be more competition at that position this year or next? How much is he concerned about suffering an injury that blows up his NFL chances?
I think we can agree that if Ewers knew he was going to be a seventh-round pick, he would have stayed another year. In a market where Carson Beck (Miami), John Mateer (Oklahoma) and Darian Mensah (Duke) all reportedly landed at least $3 million, Ewers, a three-year starter who led his team to two College Football Playoff appearances, might have blown those out of the water.
Obviously, that was not the feedback he was getting at that time. I doubt he was hearing first round, but maybe the second or third?
And another layer: Texas making it to a Jan. 10 Playoff semifinal might have worked against him. The deadline to declare for the draft was only five days later, and a lot of schools had already locked in their transfer portal QB by then. I’m sure his agent was working behind the scenes throughout, but that’s asking a lot for Ewers to make an informed decision while also trying to win a national title.
Based on the number of NFL draft picks various college teams had, which programs are overachieving and which are underperforming? — Trevor K., Portland, Ore.
The Athletic has a story filled with tables of draft picks by schools and conferences.
USC immediately stands out as an underachiever. Three seasons into Lincoln Riley’s tenure, with a roster almost entirely built by him and his staff, the Trojans had just three players selected, third-round cornerback Jaylin Smith, fourth-round running back Woody Marks and seventh-round center Jonah Monheim. A year earlier, USC had seven players selected, most notably No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but four of those seven were in the sixth and seventh rounds. No wonder the program has gone 8-5 and 7-6 the last two seasons.
Another program that’s fallen off its historical production rate is Auburn, which hasn’t had a winning season since 2020. The Tigers have had just two second-day picks in the past two draft cycles, linebacker Derrick Hall (second) and running back Tank Bigsby (third), both in 2024. This year’s five picks were all in the fifth round or lower.
Worth noting, though, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has current Auburn DT Keldric Faulk going No. 6 in his first 2026 mock draft.
As for overachievers: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti produced an 11-win season last year with just two draft picks, defensive tackle CJ West (fourth) and quarterback Kurtis Rourke (seventh). And it’s not because everyone is back this year. Similarly, SMU reached the CFP and nearly won the ACC with two picks, defensive end Elijah Roberts (fifth) and running back Brashard Smith (seventh). I’m a little surprised Smith didn’t go higher. He was a heck of a weapon, with 1,977 all-purpose yards last season.
Finally, you may have noticed that Cam Skatteboo was the only guy selected from Arizona State’s Big 12 championship team. That’s because ASU has everyone else back: 17 starters. Brugler does not have any of them in his early mock. Perhaps next April we’ll look back at the Sun Devils as super-duper overachievers.
Of the CFP hopefuls, does any team have a more glaring hole at a position than wide receiver for the Nittany Lions? Do you think this will hurt Drew Allar’s draft stock? — Zachary S.
The news got lost over draft weekend, but Penn State did finally land a proven receiver: Syracuse’s Trebor Pena, aka the guy coach Fran Brown suggested may have asked for $2 million to stay there.
Pena is a sixth-year senior who didn’t do much in his first four years but broke out last season in Brown’s pass-heavy offense to the tune of 84 catches for 941 yards. Whereas last year’s big get, Ohio State’s Julian Fleming, was still mostly living off his reputation as a recruit, Pena has shown he can excel at the highest level. He’s not exactly a home-run threat, but he finds ways to get open, and Syracuse used him in a variety of ways.
Pena completes a near-total makeover of a position group that infamously caught zero passes in the CFP semifinal against Notre Dame. Pena joins 1,000-yard receiver Devonte Ross out of Troy and USC veteran Kyron Hudson as transfers, plus three incoming freshmen. I wouldn’t say “problem solved” yet, but it’s certainly a more promising group than last year’s.
Among other CFP contenders, a lot of teams addressed the biggest concerns I had for them in January. Georgia added Illinois running back Josh McCray, coming off a 114-yard performance in the Citrus Bowl against South Carolina, for some much-needed depth behind Nate Frazier. Texas added two pass-catchers in Stanford’s Emmett Mosley V and Cal tight end Jack Endries.
Everyone has question marks, but none I’d consider glaring.
If player X is making $2M per year in NIL money, why should the school then have to pay all of his tuition, room & board, etc.? After all, it’s the school’s brand and conference that allow player X to get that money in the first place. — James W., Westport, Conn.
Technically, schools don’t have to offer any of the 8,000 perks they give their athletes. But they know if they don’t, someone else will.
Seven of the top eight quarterbacks from the class of 2023 have transferred at least once (Arch Manning is the outlier). Is this the new status quo? Do you think this reality — that you’re paying millions for someone who probably won’t play for you — will eventually be priced into the market? — Sean F., Oak Park, Ill.
It’s a fascinating case study. That was the first class that went through a full cycle with NIL, and in the haphazard early days of collectives, no less. No one had any idea what they were doing.
But there are always two sides to a transfer: did the player choose the wrong school (in this case, for money), or did the school choose the wrong player?

Nico Iamaleava chose the UCLA Bruins over the Tennessee Volunteers. (Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
Let’s take a look at those seven players, using 247 Sports rankings.
Nico Iamaleava (five stars), Tennessee to UCLA: I think we can safely put this one in the “money” category. I believe Tennessee’s collective Spyre Sports would have tried to make a big splash with whichever QB Josh Heupel targeted in that class. Nico and his family would have had a hard time turning down $8 million. But it’s not like his Tennessee experience was going poorly. His camp just got greedy.
Malachi Nelson (five stars), USC to Boise State to UTEP: Evaluators just plain laid an egg. For all the hype, it did not take long for Lincoln Riley to realize Nelson was never going to start there. NIL or not, Nelson would have been looking for a new home where he could.
Dante Moore (five stars), UCLA to Oregon: I don’t know that we’ve ever heard the full story on this one. Moore bolted UCLA despite starting as a true freshman. Maybe he didn’t like playing for Chip Kelly. Maybe he wanted a fresh start after playing so poorly. But given that it’s Oregon — it was probably the money.
Jackson Arnold (five stars), Oklahoma to Auburn: After a promising debut in the 2023 Alamo Bowl, Arnold had a first full year starting that could not have gone much worse. Oklahoma was inevitably going to pursue a guy like Mateer. It makes sense that he would transfer.
Jaden Rashada (four stars), Arizona State to Georgia to Sacramento State: He became the poster for NIL gone wrong after the ugly Florida situation. But given he’s gone from briefly starting at ASU to being a third-stringer at Georgia to now landing at an FCS school, it seems like he just doesn’t have it.
Aidan Chiles (four stars), Oregon State to Michigan State: This was just a guy following his coach, Jonathan Smith. Had Smith never left, Chiles might still be there.
Austin Mack (four stars), Washington to Alabama: Same thing. Kalen DeBoer left before Mack could play there, and Mack followed him to Alabama.
My guess is this class will prove to be an outlier. We will always have a lot of movement among QBs, but probably not to this extreme. As for the market, it arguably corrected itself already. Most of the big money is going to portal guys now. (Bryce Underwood being a notable exception.)
Why isn’t Preston Stone getting more attention at Northwestern? He threw for 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his last full season before his injury. — Jack D.
Well, that’s easy: Because it’s Northwestern.
Not a lot of offseason coverage of Northwestern football normally, but especially coming off a 4-8 season. Couple that with Stone was a backup last season, and there you go. But Stone is an intriguing pickup for the Wildcats, who haven’t had a legit star quarterback since … Dan Persa? … Mike Kafka? … Zak Kustok?
Besides Peyton Ramsey, who came in from Indiana and did a nice job during the weird 2020 season, Northwestern has not had much luck recently with transfer quarterbacks. See: Hunter Johnson (Clemson), Ryan Hilinski (South Carolina) and Mike Wright (Vanderbilt).
Third-year coach David Braun has a lot riding on Stone. I was in the minority two years ago, as I thought the school acted prematurely in promoting the former North Dakota State defensive coordinator, then 38, to full-time head coach after he served as interim coach for the 2023 team that went 8-5. He was an extremely inexperienced fill-in who was working with Pat Fitzgerald’s veteran staff.
Given the chance to make his own hires last offseason, he brought in South Dakota State offensive coordinator Zach Lujan, then 28, to try to ignite an offense that has somehow ranked in the 100s in yards per play every year since 2018. The result: It slipped even further, to 131st (4.6 YPP).
But in addition to Stone, Northwestern brought in much-needed help at receiver, with Stanford’s Chase Farrell, and at offensive line, where it signed four transfers. That includes two first-team all-conference guys, Liberty’s Xavior Gray and South Dakota State’s Evan Beerntsen.
In my 30 years following Northwestern football, it’s long been the case that the Wildcats rise up when you least expect it. (And flop when there are expectations.)
What is the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) diagnosis for an adult who pays a million dollars, or more, to support the athletes at Anywhere State U? — Tom W., Greensboro, N.C.
I believe the official diagnosis is “being filthy rich.”
Considering everything (CFP access, TV contracts and exposure, other conference revenue, strength of schedule, travel, etc.), are the top Group of 5 schools like Boise State and Memphis better off in separate conferences or forming one “super” G5 conference? — Reggie C., San Diego
On CFP access alone, they’d absolutely be better off in the same conference, especially if just for football. Put all the best G5 programs in one league, and that league is likely to get an automatic CFP berth almost every year. If I’m the new Pac-12, that’s exactly the pitch I’m making to Memphis and Tulane.
The problem: the Pac-12 doesn’t have a TV deal beyond 2025. The AAC does, with ESPN, and it’s a good one: $1 billion over 12 years, running through 2032. There was hope out West that the Pac-12 could land itself something better at the time it got Boise State and those other MWC schools, but as more time passes without adding that eighth member, the more likely it seems it is not fetching what it hoped for. The best chance is if TNT, which has been gobbling up smaller properties since losing the NBA, decides to overpay for a conference without much brand recognition.
If the money is mostly even, though, I don’t know how a school like Memphis justifies paying a bunch of exit fees to move from ESPN to TNT and/or the CW. It can still reach the CFP from the conference it’s in now.
I know it seems preposterous, but it’s mid-offseason, right? What would a draft look like in college football? — Karl S.
I just don’t see how you do that as long as the players have to be actual college students.
Imagine being a high-school senior and instead of applying to a bunch of schools, seeing which ones you got into and then picking the one you want to attend, you just got an email that said, “With the 109,343rd pick in the American University Enrollment Draft, you’ve been selected by Eastern Michigan University. See you in the fall. Pack a winter coat.”
That’s what it would look like.
(Top photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
NIL
14-year-old football star hires agent to navigate NIL deals – NBC4 Washington
A football player who just finished eighth grade already rakes in name, image and likeness money and has an agent to help him navigate the sponsorship deals at just 14 years old. Kaden Coleman Bennett has had a knack for finding the end zone on the football field since he first discovered the sport, and […]

A football player who just finished eighth grade already rakes in name, image and likeness money and has an agent to help him navigate the sponsorship deals at just 14 years old.
Kaden Coleman Bennett has had a knack for finding the end zone on the football field since he first discovered the sport, and he says he’s just getting started.
“I found something that I love; I found something that I wanted to do,” he said. “And you know, since then I’ve always been playing football since I was 4.”
His athletic abilities as a running back have already earned him verbal college offers from Syracuse and Virginia Tech. He also was invited to Bill Belichick’s football camp at the University of North Carolina.
“It is kind of crazy but it’s not hard to see because of, you know, my work ethic and the work that I’ve been put in throughout the years of me with football and school,” said Kaden, who committed to DeMatha Catholic High School.
A strong village helps ensure he keeps up with his practice schedule, potential business deals and his 3.5 GPA, Kaden said. He gives his mother, Brittany Coleman, a lot of credit.
“I’m super proud of him,” she said. “He’s faced a lot of adversity, through youth sports and just different things and people coming at him and stuff like that.”
His dad and stepfather also keep him grounded.
“As a young boy, we always taught him — me and mom — always taught him how to be ready for this moment with these NIL deals,” said his father, Bernard Bennett.
“It is our responsibility to set him up and put him in the position to accomplish the goals that he wants to accomplish,” said his stepdad and trainer, Quinton Brown.
With interest from multiple sponsors and potential NIL deals already knocking on his door, Kaden says having a solid infrastructure is imperative. That’s a key reason he already signed with a sports agent, Terrence Jackson, who is helping facilitate Kaden’s first NIL deals.
“There’s a reason why I’m here, and it’s really just to be … a place of peace. Someone that knows the ins and outs,” Jackson said.
Kaden’s focus is on getting better in order to get to the next level academically, athletically and professionally.
“Eat, sleep, grind and dedication,” he said. “I just keep those four in my pocket every time.”
Kaden aspires to become a biological engineer once he finishes his football career.
NIL
College Basketball Is Finally Fixing The Sport After Getting Bullied All Year About Shitty Endings And Refs Constantly Going To The Monitor
It’s about goddamn time. I’ve said it before, it’s not NIL or transfer portal ruining the sport. It’s the fact that the last 2 minutes of a game takes about 45 minutes of real time because the refs go to the monitor for every single play, there are timeouts, then throw in the fouls and […]

It’s about goddamn time. I’ve said it before, it’s not NIL or transfer portal ruining the sport. It’s the fact that the last 2 minutes of a game takes about 45 minutes of real time because the refs go to the monitor for every single play, there are timeouts, then throw in the fouls and free throw shooting contests and it sucks. The sport is supposed to be free-flowing. It’s supposed to be get the ball and go, not the ball going out of bounds and everyone waiting 5 minutes as three refs huddle up to look at the monitor. Is it going to fix the sport completely? No, of course not. We’re not dumb here. But this is the massive step in the right direction. It got to the point refs wouldn’t even make a call at the end of the game knowing they can go to the monitor.
Now it’s basically the NBA rule and frankly it makes sense. It never made sense to check who the ball went off of in the last 2 minutes of the game. Points aren’t worth more, 2 points is worth the same on the first possession of the game as the last. What I can’t wait for is to see what coach fucks this up. I do think we need to add something for them to throw. I want to see a disgusted Mick Cronin reaching into his suit pocket and throwing a flag of some sort at a ref.
It’s even more than this too. We had a nut shot problem this year. Accidental nut shots led to immediate ejections. That’s not the case anymore
Also get ready for continuation
Don’t have a problem with this. I do know that refs will be even more confused at the start of the year, but it makes sense to have it. If you pick up your dribble it shouldn’t be on the floor. It’s the absurd continuation that should not happen. All I know is the sport is finally taking a step in the smart direction. Replays and reviews are ruining sports, not just this one. We need less of it. We went years, decades even, without having reviews. It ruins the ending of the sport and that should at least be fixed now.

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NIL
Where Lady Vols basketball targets sit in updated class of 2026 rankings
Where Lady Vols basketball targets sit in updated class of 2026 rankings Tennessee basketball coach Kim Caldwell gives out instructions during practice for the NCAA college basketball tournament on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Birmingham, AL. (Photo by Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) As the off-season marches on, On3 has […]

Where Lady Vols basketball targets sit in updated class of 2026 rankings
As the off-season marches on, On3 has updated its rankings of women’s basketball recruits in the 2026 class.
While the Lady Vols are yet to land their first commitment in the class, they are intertwined with some of the best recruits in the cycle.
Here’s a look at where Tennessee targets sit in the updated rankings.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
*This is not an exhaustive list of Lady Vols targets, but a quick look at some players they have been tied to to this point.
No. 2 – Kate Harping
Rankings: No. 2 NATL | No. 1 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: PG
Rating: 99 | 5-star
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
School: Marist School
Notes: Kim Caldwell offered on July 18, 2024, NIL deal with adidas
No. 5 – Oliviyah Edwards
Rankings: No. 5 NATL | No. 2 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: PF
Rating: 99 | 5-star
Hometown: Tacoma, Washington
School: Elite Sports Academy
Notes: Took a visit to Tennessee in January of 2025, can dunk with ease, NIL deal with adidas
No. 8 – Brihanna Crittendon
Rankings: No. 8 NATL | No. 3 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: SG
Rating: 98 | 5-star
Hometown: Thornton, Colorado
School: Riverdale Ridge
Notes: Took an unofficial visit to Tennessee in August of 2024, UT offered on May 5, 2024
No. 11 – Addison Bjorn
Rankings: No. 11 NATL | No. 5 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: SG
Rating: 97 | 4-star
Hometown: Riverside, Missouri
School: Park Hill
Notes: Tennessee was in ‘Final 15’ released in January
No. 12 – Jacy Abii
Rankings: No. 12 NATL | No. 6 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: SG
Rating: 97 | 4-star
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
School: Liberty
Notes: Tennessee in ‘Top 10’ released this June, was offered on May 16, 2024
No. 13 – Trinity Jones
Rankings: No. 13 NATL | No. 7 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: SG
Rating: 97 | 4-star
Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
School: Bolingbrook
Notes: Visited Tennessee in October of 2024
No. 14 – Bella Flemmings
Rankings: No. 14 NATL | No. 3 POS | No. 2 ST
Position: CG
Rating: 97 | 4-star
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
School: William J. Brennan
Notes: Brother plays for Houston men’s basketball
No. 41 – Leelee Bell
Rankings: No. 41 NATL | No. 11 POS | No. 1 ST
Position: PF
Rating: 94 | 4-star
Hometown: Minot, North Dakota
School: Minot
Notes: Was offered on May 23, 2025
No. 49 – Natalya Hodge
Rankings: No. 49 NATL | No. 6 POS | No. 2 ST
Position: PG
Rating: 94 | 4-star
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
School: Bearden
Notes: From Knoxville, visited in October of 2024
NIL
Game-changing NCAA settlement begins new era in college sports
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The House v. NCAA settlement is paving the way for athletes to maximize their brands on and off the field by allowing schools to pay them directly starting July 1. “It’s the largest, most significant change in college sports business that we’ve ever seen,” said Luke Fedlam, a corporate attorney and […]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The House v. NCAA settlement is paving the way for athletes to maximize their brands on and off the field by allowing schools to pay them directly starting July 1.
“It’s the largest, most significant change in college sports business that we’ve ever seen,” said Luke Fedlam, a corporate attorney and sports law advisor with Amundsen Davis Law Firm.
The multi-billion-dollar settlement includes the NCAA paying nearly $2.8 billion in back pay to former athletes who played in 2016 through present day and giving schools the ability to pay current athletes a limited amount. The annual cap is expected to start at $2.5 million per school with yearly increases. The deal currently lasts for 10 years. Schools can also get directly involved with NIL deals with student athletes.
“One of the things I think is important about this ruling is that it does bring some certainty and a level of certainty to the college sports industry that has really been in a tumultuous kind of time, the wild, wild, West period. This finally brings at least some level of understanding that we’re all moving in the same direction,” said Fedlam.
The NIL expert said the “most significant” sticking point in the judge’s analysis of approving the settlement was roster management. Roster limits go into effect, trimming scholarships for football down to 105 with no walk-on spots. However, student-athletes recruited in the 2025-2026 academic year who lost an opportunity because of roster limits or current athletes facing the same challenge will be viewed as “Designated Student Athletes.”
“Throughout their period of eligibility, they will be able to always be on a roster without affecting the number or the limitation on those roster limits,” said Fedlam.
With the settlement comes the launch of the College Sports Commission, an independent third party, created to enforce NIL rules and regulations. The Commission will oversee Deloitte’s “NIL Go,” a platform used to assess fair market value regarding NIL deals over $600 and monitor whether the deals should be challenged.
The settlement is with the Power Five schools; however, Fedlam noted that other schools can opt into the revenue-sharing model.
“Everything that I’ve heard over the last really 72 hours or so has really been, people are excited that it actually is finally approved,” said Fedlam.
The settlement aims to streamline how NIL is handled. In response, Ohio State launched a unified NIL management team called the “Buckeye Sports Group.” Athletes are not considered employees of the school.
“That is something that was not dealt with in this settlement and something that is going through the court process now, but student athletes are currently not employees,” said Fedlam.
While the landmark settlement sparks a new era in college sports, Fedlam believes Congressional action will be taken in the near future.
NIL
14
A football player who just finished eighth grade already rakes in name, image and likeness money and has an agent to help him navigate the sponsorship deals at just 14 years old. Kaden Coleman Bennett has had a knack for finding the end zone on the football field since he first discovered the sport, and […]


A football player who just finished eighth grade already rakes in name, image and likeness money and has an agent to help him navigate the sponsorship deals at just 14 years old.
Kaden Coleman Bennett has had a knack for finding the end zone on the football field since he first discovered the sport, and he says he’s just getting started.
“I found something that I love; I found something that I wanted to do,” he said. “And you know, since then I’ve always been playing football since I was 4.”
His athletic abilities as a running back have already earned him verbal college offers from Syracuse and Virginia Tech. He also was invited to Bill Belichick’s football camp at the University of North Carolina.
“It is kind of crazy but it’s not hard to see because of, you know, my work ethic and the work that I’ve been put in throughout the years of me with football and school,” said Kaden, who committed to DeMatha Catholic High School.
A strong village helps ensure he keeps up with his practice schedule, potential business deals and his 3.5 GPA, Kaden said. He gives his mother, Brittany Coleman, a lot of credit.
“I’m super proud of him,” she said. “He’s faced a lot of adversity, through youth sports and just different things and people coming at him and stuff like that.”
His dad and stepfather also keep him grounded.
“As a young boy, we always taught him — me and mom — always taught him how to be ready for this moment with these NIL deals,” said his father, Bernard Bennett.
“It is our responsibility to set him up and put him in the position to accomplish the goals that he wants to accomplish,” said his stepdad and trainer, Quinton Brown.
With interest from multiple sponsors and potential NIL deals already knocking on his door, Kaden says having a solid infrastructure is imperative. That’s a key reason he already signed with a sports agent, Terrence Jackson, who is helping facilitate Kaden’s first NIL deals.
“There’s a reason why I’m here, and it’s really just to be … a place of peace. Someone that knows the ins and outs,” Jackson said.
Kaden’s focus is on getting better in order to get to the next level academically, athletically and professionally.
“Eat, sleep, grind and dedication,” he said. “I just keep those four in my pocket every time.”
Kaden aspires to become a biological engineer once he finishes his football career.
NIL
How the NCAA House Settlement Will Change College Football | Nebraska Football & NIL Discussion
In this episode of Monday Night Therapy, host Minnie Hunt is joined by Pigskin PD (Peter Bartell) and law professor Adam Lamparello for an in-depth look at the NCAA House Settlement and its massive impact on the future of college football. The panel breaks down how the new system allows universities to pay up to […]

In this episode of Monday Night Therapy, host Minnie Hunt is joined by Pigskin PD (Peter Bartell) and law professor Adam Lamparello for an in-depth look at the NCAA House Settlement and its massive impact on the future of college football. The panel breaks down how the new system allows universities to pay up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, alongside NIL deals, and explores the legal, competitive, and Title IX ramifications. Adam explains why this structure may further widen the gap between powerhouse programs and smaller schools—sparking antitrust concerns and long legal battles.
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The conversation also dives into Nebraska football’s identity, the importance of returning to its physical, trench-dominant style, and head coach Matt Rhule’s efforts to rebuild the program. The group reflects on Nebraska legends like Tommy Frazier and Lawrence Phillips while discussing NIL’s broader impact on player movement, recruiting, and competitive balance across college football.
If you’re passionate about Nebraska football history, college football NIL, or the changing landscape of the sport, this is an essential discussion. Plus, hear some fun memories about the 1869 Rutgers-Princeton game and Nebraska’s storied quarterback legacy.
#NebraskaFootball #CollegeFootballHistory #NIL #NCAASettlement #GoBigRed
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