As the college football season winds down with only the national championship game remaining, the offseason chatter is already heating up. UAB Blazers head coach Trent Dilfer stirred the pot on Tuesday, highlighting what he perceives as troubling trends in the world of NIL and player transfers.
Trent Dilfer Raises Concerns Over NIL and Transfer Portal Dynamics in College Football
Dilfer appeared on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Birmingham’s WJOX-FM 94.5. He didn’t hold back in addressing how NIL-driven decisions are impacting teams like UAB. Coming off a challenging 3-9 season, the Blazers have seen an exodus of players through the transfer portal, which Dilfer attributes partly to the growing influence of NIL money.
He also accused rival schools within the American Athletic Conference (AAC) of poaching. Dilfer expressed frustration over what he sees as AAC teams offering significantly higher NIL deals to lure players away from UAB.
Trent Dilfer on the current state of NIL.
“In our conference, again not going to use schools, we have two teams that will go to our roster and sign double or triple what these guys can make on our roster and make them backups on their roster so that we can’t have them.” https://t.co/BtiZRYvhfV pic.twitter.com/W3k4pecxV5
— BirminghamSports (@BirminghamSport) January 14, 2025
“In our conference … we have two teams that will go to our roster and sign double or triple what these guys can make on our roster and make them backups on their roster so that we can’t have them,” Dilfer said.
While he refrained from naming specific programs, the implication was that UAB was losing talent, and financial offers were too lucrative to refuse. Linebacker Everett Roussaw and cornerback Chris Bracy joined the Memphis Tigers, while defensive lineman Derrick Sheppard moved to the Tulane Green Wave.
Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall appeared to react to Dilfer’s comments, tweeting a video of the interview with a playful “double-eyeball” emoji. He also tagged Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield and USF Bulls head coach Alex Golesh, the presumed targets of the UAB head coach’s tirade.
👀 @RSilverfield 👀 @CoachGolesh 😜 https://t.co/5VmcfyH48r
— Jon Sumrall (@CoachJonSumrall) January 14, 2025
The departures have left significant gaps in UAB’s roster, including the losses of running back Lee Beebe (Indiana), wide receiver Amare Thomas (Houston), and safety Adrian Maddox (Georgia), among others.
Despite this, UAB has managed to bring in some notable transfers for 2025, including quarterback Ryder Burton (West Virginia), running back Jevon Jackson (UTEP), and defensive lineman Nigel Tate (Boston College). However, Dilfer acknowledges that these additions may not fully offset the losses.
Trent Dilfer Pointing Out “Chicken Scratch” Building Value Beyond Money
Dilfer’s candid remarks also touched on UAB’s financial limitations in the NIL era. He emphasized that UAB must offer players more than just monetary incentives. Dilfer explained:
“Value that we can show a kid is care, connection, plus value, plus opportunity—plus some ‘chicken scratch.’”
He elaborated on the importance of recruiting players with strong intangibles. He said:
“You have to get a certain kind of makeup of player that you feel like you can elevate his (physical) traits because of his intangible makeup, instead of leaning only on traits.”
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Dilfer’s concerns are part of a larger conversation about the role of NIL and the transfer portal in college football. While NIL opportunities have empowered athletes to capitalize on their talents, they’ve also introduced new challenges, including tampering and poaching.
These trends raise questions about the motivations behind player recruitment and the long-term implications for smaller programs. Dilfer’s remarks bring attention to how these practices could widen the gap between well-funded programs.
“It’s one thing for a player to leave and get more money because they are going to play and make a big impact with another school,” Dilfer said. “Taking players who are going to be backups just so another school can’t have them is certainly a different story.”
The current landscape of college football, driven by NIL and the transfer portal, has intensified competition but also created new vulnerabilities for programs like UAB. Smaller schools with fewer financial resources risk falling further behind as wealthier programs leverage NIL to build depth.
Athletic director Mark Ingram confirmed in December that Dilfer would return for a third season, quelling speculation about a potential coaching change. Ingram also pledged “additional investments” in the program to support its growth and competitiveness.
Dilfer has made several key staff changes to strengthen the Blazers’ coaching lineup. Veteran coach Steve Russ has been brought in as defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Brent Vieselmeyer and Ryan Lewis have joined as linebackers and cornerback coaches, respectively.
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