The world of college football recruiting is shifting rapidly. It seems like every week, we are facing new changes in the landscape, and not all of them are necessarily good for the sport we love from the bottom of our hearts.
Recently, Georgia HC Kirby Smart dropped a bombshell in an interview. He shared how recruiting has spiraled out of control, especially with NIL deals heavily influencing where players commit. All of this is quietly happening while everyone in college football is preoccupied by the number of conference games in the SEC football schedule.
Kirby Smart Reveals Major Concerns Over NIL Deals For Top Recruits
Georgia HC Kirby Smart recently shared eye-opening details about the NIL market. He revealed that some booster-backed NIL collectives are paying high school recruits up to $20,000 a month to keep their commitment to certain programs.
Smart explained in a conversation with Yahoo Sports that these payments come from groups not directly linked to universities but closely connected to their athletic programs. What’s more concerning is that these deals often require recruits to pay back the money if they decide to decommit.
This practice raises serious questions about the fairness and honesty of college football recruiting.
Kirby Smart tells @YahooSports that collectives are striking deals with high school recruits to keep and gain their commitments – paying them as much as $20,000 a month in this unregulated market. If they de-commit, they are being asked to return the compensation, he says. https://t.co/o4GZv0MG7d
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 28, 2025
“That’s a risk,” Smart said. “Schools are going to either default on a contract, or have lied, or have been right, and they gain a player for it.” However, the 49-year-old did not name any schools involved. He only confirmed that none of these programs are in the SEC.
Smart’s comments come at a critical time. The NCAA vs. House settlement is expected to change the entire landscape. This case is pushing for revenue sharing between schools and players, which could help stop these shady deals.
Until that happens, though, the recruiting world remains chaotic. Smart’s concerns paint a clear picture—some recruits are being paid huge sums just to stay committed. And with no real oversight, the pressure is only growing.
KEEP READING: What Is House vs. NCAA? Inside the Case Changing the Course of College Football Forever
Clearly, Kirby Smart has exposed one of the harsh truths of the NIL era. For now, this chaotic situation may continue until the House vs. NCAA settlement is finalized and new rules take effect.
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