The NCAA’s current NIL rules have created an environment in college football where many athletes are simply choosing colleges based on which team will be able to offer them the most money through their respective NIL collectives. But LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly is not willing to do that.
During a recent interview, Brian Kelly made it very clear that the Tigers are not interested in “buying” players in recruitment.
“We’re not in the market of buying players and unfortunately right now, that’s what some guys are looking for,” Kelly said.
Kelly made it very clear that while there will be opportunities for players to make money at LSU through the team’s NIL collective, the team is not interested in recruiting players who are purely in it for the money and nothing else.
.@JacquesDoucet : Where are you right now w/the defensive line recruiting?
Brian Kelly: "It's hasn't fared very well quite frankly because we are selling something a little bit differently…
We are not in the market of buying players."
LSU HC sends a STRONG message via @WAFB pic.twitter.com/HO8zfwdRsZ
— Carter Bryant (@PowerHourLSU) May 7, 2024
“They want to be bought,” he said. “And I understand that NIL is part of this, and we have an incredible collective, we have very, very generous opportunities around the greater Baton Rouge area for NIL opportunities. So they are here, but we’re not going to go out and buy players. That’s not what this is about, this was never about that.
“We will develop you, we will get you ready for the next step… but if you’re just looking to get paid, you’re looking in the wrong place. If you like all the things that we do here in developing our players, bringing you into a championship program, playing in front of the best fanbase in America, playing for championships and having an opportunity for NIL, you should be a Tiger. But if you just want to get paid, this is not the place for you.”
We’ll have to see how this strategy works out for him.
