Not sure about that. I do know that prior to his senior season, no one was thinking he was a 1st round pick. He stuck with the Utes instead of going to Bama and played his way into the 1st round. Specifically that USC game caught everyone’s attention. If he went to Bama who knows what could have happened, but it’s very possible he wouldn’t have had the sake opportunity. Kincaid isn’t dumb, he played the long game and it paid off.
Plus NIL was in its infancy two years ago when that happened. I don’t think anyone then would have ventured that college football would essentially become play for pay. There really weren’t people pushing the envelope, actively contacting players, or huge numbers of players entering the portal.
I’m not sure how anyone couldn’t have seen this coming with NIL. College football has always been pay for play. All NIL did was move it into the open.
I remember an oft repeated quote from Hugh McElheney that when he went pro, he had to take a pay cut. And I knew players at Utah who got hundred dollar handshakes.
That quote from McElhenny came during a period where professional football was still way behind college football in popularity, so it made sense at the time.
When the news broke, someone close to the family said he wasn’t interested because he’d already transferred and adjusted to a new program once. The other reason was his family is decently well off, so the money wasn’t a big factor for him.
I doubt very much we were offering the same for him, especially as 2nd on the depth chart.
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