College football recruiting reached new territory when Mark Bowman, the nation’s top tight end prospect, committed to USC amid reports of a staggering $7 million NIL deal over three years. The Mater Dei High School standout chose the Trojans over Texas and Georgia in a move that has sent shockwaves through the recruiting world.
Industry insiders are raising serious questions about the sustainability and approval process for massive, multi-year contracts being offered to unproven college players. The deal is one of the largest NIL packages ever reported for a high school recruit, sparking debate about where college football’s financial arms race is heading.
NIL Uncertainty Grows, Questions Mount Around USC’s Bold Recruiting Contracts
Recruiting analyst Bobby Burton shared major concerns about the deal’s structure during a recent podcast appearance. “I don’t know how these deals are getting approved for multi-year when we don’t know exactly what the landscape for NIL is going to look like,” Burton said while discussing the unprecedented contract.
The confusion comes from current NIL regulations that don’t technically allow multi-year agreements. Burton pointed out the unclear future of oversight. “If there’s going to be essentially a third party that has to approve these large-dollar NIL deals, how are they going to follow through on these promises down the stretch?”
Bowman’s commitment came after USC made him their top priority in the 2026 recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-4 tight end from Santa Ana, Calif., had long been seen as a Texas-Georgia battle before USC became a serious contender with its aggressive NIL strategy.
The Trojans have overhauled their recruiting approach under new leadership, landing more than 25 commits before June. They hired Notre Dame’s recruiting coordinator this offseason, putting in place a system that clearly emphasizes financial incentives to land top-tier prospects.
Burton noted a broader trend of NIL inflation nationwide. He referenced Missouri offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell committing to Miami for approximately $3 million per year, illustrating just how rapidly the market is growing for elite recruits.
The timing appears strategic as schools push to lock in commitments before potential NIL rule changes. “You want to get the guys in the boat quickly,” Burton said, referencing the upcoming House settlement and revenue-sharing plans that could shift the entire system.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently stated that some non-SEC schools are offering high school players $20,000 per month to commit, with clawback clauses in place if they decommit. That highlights just how complicated these deals are becoming.
Bowman’s deal brings up big-picture questions about where college sports are headed. While his talent is evident — he had 32 catches for 435 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season — the size of the investment is still a major gamble.
Now, the spotlight is on USC to see if they can hang on to these big-money recruits through signing day, especially after five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin recently decommitted. With rule changes looming, it’s unclear how long these types of deals can last.
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