Survey: CFB Recruits Value Coaches, Pro Chances More Than NIL

As college football players, coaches, and programs continue to adjust to the new normal of NIL one year in, many top high school prospects have unique perspectives to consider.

On3 recently surveyed 85 of its consensus top 200 high school football recruits about how potential NIL deals affect where they’re committing to college and how they’ll operate in the space once they get there.

The survey found that 30% of respondents would consider going to a school that was not a perfect fit from a football or academic standpoint if a good NIL deal was waiting for them.

Two highly rated quarterbacks and several other notable players answered yes to this question.

That said, it’s still not the most important factor.

When asked to rank what was most important for their decision, players overwhelmingly prioritized coaching staff and NFL development, with NIL deals ranking sixth out of seven options.

The secondary players in the NIL market are also playing a role.

Of recruits surveyed, 31.8% have said they’ve been contacted by a collective, while only 11.8% said they have worked with a lawyer on an NIL contract — and 80% of that group said they reached out to a lawyer rather than vice versa.

Additionally, many recruits are using each other as resources to negotiate their deals: 64.7% of those surveyed say they have talked with other recruits about NIL deals, with 38.2% even comparing offers.

“All of us top guys talk, so we know what everyone is getting,” a highly ranked Texas offensive recruit said. “We can use that knowledge piece to determine our own value by comparison.”