When reports initially surfaced regarding the NCAA’s probe into the Tennessee Vols regarding their management of NIL agreements, there was concern among some fans, both from UT and rival camps, that the Volunteers might face negative recruiting tactics from opponents once again.
Whenever a program becomes the subject of an NCAA investigation, even if it appears baseless (which is often the case), rival teams tend to use it as leverage to dissuade players from committing to that program. This was a challenge Tennessee faced during the Jeremy Pruitt/UT investigation, which concluded last summer.
However, despite initial fears of negative recruiting, it seems that won’t be the case this time around. This is partly because there’s a prevailing sentiment among the public favoring the downfall of the NCAA, a sentiment that this investigation and ensuing lawsuit (the state of Tennessee vs the NCAA) could accelerate.
Additionally, Coach Josh Heupel turned the investigation into a significant positive for recruiting last week with his statements in support of the preliminary injunction seeking to halt the NCAA from enforcing NIL recruiting rules.
In an era where many college football coaches spend considerable time complaining about NIL deals, Heupel made it unequivocally clear that he fully supports players’ rights to earn income from NIL deals, particularly early in their college careers.
He noted in his declaration filed on Friday, “Because of the risk of injuries in college sports, an early NIL deal could be the best or only NIL deal they might ever secure… NCAA rules are vague and confusing. They frequently change and they sometimes conflict with NCAA’s prior guidance.”
NIL is here to stay, and thanks to Heupel’s strong advocacy for student-athletes and recruits in NIL matters, players understand they’ll be supported at Tennessee. Heupel’s comments on NIL in the declaration are among the most supportive we’ve seen from an active college head coach.
Ultimately, the essence of the game remains competing on the field, but NIL, whether liked or not, is now part of the equation. Heupel made it clear last week that not only does he endorse NIL deals, but he also aims to assist recruits/players in navigating this complex landscape.
Despite the NCAA investigation, which is unlikely to yield significant results, this obstacle for the Vols now appears to be a potential boon for the program.
