[CityCreekUte]

Not knowing your situation in life maybe this doesn’t apply to you but if another job comes along for me that is willing to pay 6 figure or 7 figures more than the one I have it is probably going to mean I move.

[BeachUte]

Every single insider felt confident in his selecting Utah. From Alex to the 247 guys. The coaches were confident he would pick Utah. Enough for me to believe that he either had a last second change of heart or… well I’m not gonna throw out the other option.

[Anfernee]

And even then we have to remember that these guys haven’t even started their senior year yet! Lots can and will change by the time they graduate.

[BeachUte]

Utah set up a very comparable NIL offer as Tennessee but that’s the problem at this point: you’re going to have to overspend to have a shot vs the P2 and Utah does not have the resources to overspend on these players. It’s a big reason they lost a few this off-season.

It’s also why NIL might be problematic for Utah going forward. Look at Texas Tech. They landed one of the top OLs in the country a few weeks ago over Michigan, Ohio State and Texas. Now all those schools could theoretically match what Texas Tech threw out ($5 million) but they weren’t going to hand out maybe the biggest guaranteed NIL deal ever to land an OL. None of those schools are struggling for talent. Tech knew they had to overpay him and did.

Utah needed to offer a decent amount more than Tennessee to overcome the benefits of playing at a playoff contender from the SEC. They simply don’t have the resources to do something like that and because of it, they lost one of their prized recruits.

And that’s the reality Big 12 teams will ALL face when going up against P2 programs: just matching what the other schools are offering isn’t going to do it most the time. You’re gonna have to incentivize these deals way more. The schools with the ability to overpay for talent will likely be the teams better positioned than those that don’t.

[Kellso]

Travis Hunter was the 2024 Heisman Trophy recipient. He played in the Big 12. He was a two way player. So, do you have to play in the SEC or The Big10 to be recognized, no. I sure like the players who bet on themselves.

[BeachUte]

There’s always exceptions to the rule, my friend. I never claimed you’re doomed if you play in the Big 12. But also, I’m not even coming close to predicting a Heisman for Moa.

But being in the Big 12 is a disadvantage. If it wasn’t, 18 of the top 20 players according to 247 Sports wouldn’t be committed to (or favored to commit to) SEC or Big 10 schools.

On top of that, Tennessee, especially with the pending expanded playoff, is better positioned than Utah for the playoffs.

The point is, to have a shot at a lot of these recruits, Utah will need to do better than just match the NIL deals of what a Big 10 or SEC school is offering. They’ve got to overpay – just as Texas Tech did for their top-tier OL.

[Tednab]

… For starters you have to have a proven offense

[BeachUte]

Have an offense.

Have a team that appears to be in contention for the playoffs (Tennessee is coming off a playoff appearance, Utah is coming off a losing season)…if Utah is going to make up for these gaps, they’re not gonna do it by just matching Tennessee in the NIL. They’ll have to overpay … maybe by a decent amount and I don’t think Utah can afford that.

Everything I heard is that the NIL offered to Moa was about as deep as realistically possible with the resources Utah has at their disposal.

[Rick]

It isn’t that I disagree with many on this board who criticize Whitt’s decision making; but it can’t be emphasized enough that he went all in on a healthy Rising for 2024. I think how he handled 2023 deserves some scrutiny but if Rising is healthy in 2024 the U contends for the the league championship just as projected. I also think he and Ludwig simply missed on thinking Wilson was more prepared than it turned out. I think it’s that’s simple and I get it.

To your point on old school coaching and NIL, I think Whitt does understand that. It’s why Beck was hired. I think it’s a factor in Whitt’s pending retirement. Like Saban, I think Whitt struggles with how the game is changing. Hell, I’m struggling as a fan. I’m with MiamiUte and others who are evaluating carefully the next few years.

[BeachUte]

Keep spreading lies. It’s a shame a Utah fan would take such glee in making things up to tear down a Utah player who delivered two of the best seasons in Utah football history.

Anyone who claims Rising was a locker room problem is either woefully misinformed or just making s**t up. And that’s a fact.

[Author]

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