Gmtm Logo
SIGN UP
Gmtm Logo
ACTIVITIES
Download Our App
Sign in
Sign up

College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

ByBryan Armetta

5 min read

College Football: Five Stars Who Could Have Benefitted Most from NIL Ruling

The NCAA's Division I Board of Directors announced a new rule last year that will allow for college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The move is years in the making, and represents perhaps the most momentous decision in the history of college sports.

In addition to providing a new platform for players to profit off of their name, the ruling also raises into question previous decisions made by the NCAA. Young athletes who may have signed an autograph once have often had their statistics and trophies eradicated from the record books, while programs who engaged in suspicious activities have often had numerous titles and wins vacated. Still, the notably stubborn NCAA is unlikely to back down on previous decisions:

Regardless of what the powers that be decide to do now and in the future, the past is the past. Plenty of box-office gridiron stars have passed through the college ranks unable to cash in on their fame. Therefore, it's worth looking back at the following college football players who could have benefitted the most from the NCAA's new NIL policy.


Michael Vick

College football embraced duel-threat quarterbacks long before the NFL, and running from the pocket has always been an accepted part of the collegiate game. However, before Michael Vick, scramblers were just that: 'running' quarterbacks. The Virginia Tech star changed the game, using his elite athleticism to wreak havoc against defenses on the ground and through the air.

While Vick's passing numbers may seem somewhat pedestrian compared to today's gunslingers, his status as a college (and NFL) game-changer is unquestionable. Number seven could run for a ten yard gain or toss a fifty-yard touchdown with his cannon-like arm, something few running QBs have ever had the ability to do. The sheer thrill of seeing such a bold new brand of quarterback play, combined with Tech's stellar 22-2 record during his time in Blacksburg, would have made Vick a surefire cash cow.


Johnny Manziel

You had to know that Manziel would make his way onto this list. The eminently watchable, and quotable, quarterback took the college football world by storm his first year, becoming the (then) only freshman to have ever won the Heisman Trophy in 2012. While at College Station, the star QB also earned a reputation as a hard partier, which only fueled the legend that was Johnny Football.

What may not have been known by the public is that Manziel did profit off of his name while in college. In June, he admitted to signing thousands of autographs for a total of "three grand". Therefore, it only makes sense that Manziel would be willing to give today's generation of athletes advice on how to best maximize their personal brand:

Although Manziel did manage to make some cash while in college, it would have been fascinating to see what kind of marketing opportunities he could have taken part of had the NCAA allowed him.


Brian Bosworth

The lone defender on the list, Bosworth was truly one of a kind while in college at Oklahoma. His complete defensive game was the backbone of a dominant Sooner squad that won a National Championship in 1985. Arguably the greatest to ever play the linebacker position in college, Bosworth's bone-crushing hits and blazing speed made him a highlight reel waiting to happen every Saturday.

However, Bosworth's play wasn't what made him a national icon. It was his brash, unapologetic personality, trademark blond hair, and penchant for controversy that made him draw national headlines. Most notably, his response to an Orange Bowl ban from the NCAA in 1986 for a failed steroid test was to wear a shirt that said National Communists Against Athletes. The move resulted in his dismissal from Oklahoma and eventual declaration for the NFL Draft. In an NIL-friendly, social-media world, who knows how much bigger The Boz's personal brand could have become.


Tim Tebow

The All-American charm of Tim Tebow could have been a major draw for sponsors had the former Florida quarterback played under the current NIL rules. Tebow had plenty of on-field success, including two National Championships and a Heisman Trophy in 2007. However, his wholesome personality and outspoken Christian faith also managed to attract plenty of fans from across the country.

If Tebow was able to profit, there is no telling what kind of branding opportunities could have been in store. There is plenty of past precedent that shows his name was a major cash cow. Tebow's recent jersey sales with the Jacksonville Jaguars made him the first person to ever have a best-selling day in five different uniforms, counting his baseball days in the New York Mets organization. On top of that, the guy knew how to capitalize on his success; during the peak of the 'Tebowing' meme in 2012, Tim managed to trademark the move.


Reggie Bush

In one of the most notable instances of an NIL crackdown, the NCAA found former USC Trojan Reggie Bush guilty of accepting "impermissible benefits" during his time in L.A. The ensuing punishment resulted in the removal of Bush's Heisman, along with his personal statistics and 2004 National Champion USC's record during his time on campus. Another unfortunate side effect was USC disassociating itself from Bush, one of the greatest players in the history of the school. Luckily, USC's stance appears to have changed following the announcement of new NIL rules, but the NCAA is still adamant about refusing to give back previously stripped awards and titles, including Bush's Heisman:

However, the damage done to Bush's legacy is still very apparent. An electrifying runner with ahead-of-his-time pass catching ability out of the backfield, Bush made a name for himself while carrying one of college football's prestige programs to arguably its greatest heights. That it all came crashing down after he left college football says more about the NCAA's archaic policy towards NIL than it does about Bush's character. A world where the running back was allowed to endorse himself could have been much better for both parties, then and now. Besides, just imagine the Bush Push merchandise we could have seen while Reggie was in college.


Honorable Mentions: Vince Young, Raghib Ismail, Doug Flutie, Peyton Manning, Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Desmond Howard, Deion Sanders, Vinny Testaverde, Baker Mayfield, Ricky Williams, Matt Leinart


Brian Armetta is a freelance sportswriter residing in New York City. He spends much of his weekend watching his favorite AAU football teams, the Jets and Giants.

Are you an Athlete?

Create a free profile to access the largest network specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities. Get started.

RELATED ARTICLES
Recruitment Roadmap: Essential Tips & Resources for Athletes

Recruitment Roadmap: Essential Tips & Resources for Athletes

Are you an aspiring athlete looking to take your sports career to the next level? Whether you dream...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Jan 29 2024
The Recruiting Process Simplified: Tips for Athletes

The Recruiting Process Simplified: Tips for Athletes

Growing up, many athletes dream of hitting the game-winning shot. A stadium roaring with fans,...

ByTiffany Allen | Tue Jan 02 2024
GMTM Launches New Recruiting Education Course

GMTM Launches New Recruiting Education Course

“How do I get recruited?" This is a question we hear from athletes all the time at GMTM. We know...

ByTiffany Allen | Tue Dec 12 2023
Athlete Scholarships: Your Pathway to Success

Athlete Scholarships: Your Pathway to Success

Are you an athlete looking to unlock the path to your dreams with a college scholarship? Beyond...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Dec 07 2023
Beyond NCSA Athletic Recruiting: Get Ahead in Your Journey

Beyond NCSA Athletic Recruiting: Get Ahead in Your Journey

Navigating the recruiting landscape in sports can be difficult and complex. If you're an athlete,...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Nov 30 2023
What Do Coaches Want? Unlocking the Secrets of Athletic Recruitment for New Talent

What Do Coaches Want? Unlocking the Secrets of Athletic Recruitment for New Talent

Picture this: You're out on the field, giving your all, with the wind in your hair and the crowd's...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Nov 20 2023
Recruiting in Sports: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Recruiting in Sports: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Are you an athlete looking to uncover the keys to success in sports recruiting? Unlock your...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Nov 13 2023
How to Train for Football Combines & Camps

How to Train for Football Combines & Camps

The NFL combine is the ultimate opportunity for athletes to showcase themselves in front of NFL...

ByMathias Torp | Wed Nov 08 2023
5 Stages of College Recruiting Process

5 Stages of College Recruiting Process

The recruiting process can be compared to a funnel containing five specific stages. College coaches...

ByMathias Torp | Fri Nov 03 2023
Flag Football: Unlocking Your Path to Pro Sports

Flag Football: Unlocking Your Path to Pro Sports

Are you passionate about sports and dreaming of excelling in a new sport? Look no further than flag...

ByTiffany Allen | Fri Oct 13 2023
Recruiting for Football: The Ultimate Guide

Recruiting for Football: The Ultimate Guide

Are you a football coach or recruiter looking to build a winning team? Crucial for success on the...

ByTiffany Allen | Mon Sep 11 2023
AFFL Opens Talent ID Event For Upcoming Pro Tryouts In Dallas & Three Other Cities

AFFL Opens Talent ID Event For Upcoming Pro Tryouts In Dallas & Three Other Cities

The American Flag Football League is hosting an in-person tryout for male athletes interested in...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Jun 29 2023
Sports Career Success: Tips for College and Pro Athletes

Sports Career Success: Tips for College and Pro Athletes

Sports come with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. As an athlete, pursuing a career in...

ByTiffany Allen | Wed Jun 21 2023
Volleyball Recruits: 10 Tips For Acing The College Recruiting Process

Volleyball Recruits: 10 Tips For Acing The College Recruiting Process

The college volleyball recruiting process can be intimidating for high school athletes, but with...

ByOVA Team Ontario | Fri Jun 02 2023
Learn How USA Football Selects The Flag Football National Team

Learn How USA Football Selects The Flag Football National Team

The sport of Flag Football has continued to grow in popularity in recent years. The introduction to...

ByTiffany Allen | Thu Jun 01 2023
Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

Name, Image, & Likeness: March Madness Offers Rare NIL Opportunities

For college basketball fans around the country, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year....

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Mar 07 2023
Athletes Who Earned Their USA Football Tryout Invite on GMTM

Athletes Who Earned Their USA Football Tryout Invite on GMTM

Does football season really end anymore? The day after the Super Bowl, which marks the end of the...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Mar 06 2023
When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

When Values Clash: Tackling the Alignment Problem for Sports Organizations and Athletes

More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt Jr's injury during an amateur football game resulted in...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Mar 02 2023
How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer?

It's time to start applying for schools and begin your recruiting process. You have been working...

ByJohnathan Wright | Tue Feb 21 2023
Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

Five Reasons Why College Basketball Coaches Rescind Scholarship Offers

It’s what you have dreamed of, worked for, and waited on your whole life - a coveted college...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Feb 13 2023
Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Sports Injuries and Insurance: Four Facts Parents & Recruits Should Know

Injuries are a major part of athletics, and a high percentage of student-athletes competing in NCAA...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Feb 07 2023
Name, Image, Likeness: Do high school athletes have NIL rights in your state?

Name, Image, Likeness: Do high school athletes have NIL rights in your state?

We are well over a year into a new era of college sports. Back in the summer of 2021, the Supreme...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Jan 26 2023
New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

New XFL Draft Picks use GMTM to be seen by coaches and fans

In just under a month, the XFL will be taking yet another crack at creating a competing...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Jan 20 2023
Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

Unlocking Billions: How World-Class Sports Organizations Manage Talent for Success

What is the thing that has driven the $90 billion Sports industry? Talent Without talent, Sports...

ByJoey Grant | Thu Jan 19 2023
Why The Transfer Portal Is So Important For College Basketball Coaches

Why The Transfer Portal Is So Important For College Basketball Coaches

2019 was a transformative year in NCAA athletics. The NCAA Transfer Portal, a database which allows...

ByKeiwaine Hicks | Sun Dec 11 2022
Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Recruiting Rankings: Should I Be Worried If I’m Not A Ranked Basketball Player?

Getting ranked - it’s the ultimate goal and source of motivation for many basketball players across...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Dec 04 2022
How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

How similar is the NCAA Transfer Portal to free agency in professional sports?

The NCAA Transfer Portal is a great platform that is beneficial to student-athletes. It allows...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Dec 02 2022
"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

"What Is A 5-Star Recruit?": Explaining how high school basketball prospect rankings work

High School basketball players like Bronny James are all over TV and social media nowadays, with...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Dec 01 2022
College Soccer: What is the difference between NCAA Division-I & NAIA?

College Soccer: What is the difference between NCAA Division-I & NAIA?

Many soccer athletes across the United States aspire to play their sport at the college level, and...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 26 2022
College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

College Volleyball: What Is The Timeline For A High School Recruit

Playing volleyball at the collegiate level is almost every single player's dream as a young...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Nov 24 2022
Baseball Recruiting: Tips For How To Find A Showcase Team

Baseball Recruiting: Tips For How To Find A Showcase Team

It isn’t always easy to find a team that’s the right fit for you. It wasn’t easy for me. Some guys...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Nov 23 2022
How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

How To Improve Your Golf Game With A New Workout Routine

The potency of preparedness in winning all battles, from the most ferocious to the most trivial of...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 22 2022
Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

Which College Sports Mascots Are The Most Polarizing?

They’re one of the most crucial aspects to a college sports viewing experience. The players?...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Nov 21 2022
Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Five Ways To Boost Your Basketball Recruiting with Social Media

Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, GMTM, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook... Social media is a...

ByKeiwaine Hicks | Sat Nov 19 2022
Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

Which High Schools In America Produce The Most Female College Athletes?

It may come as no surprise to hear parents want what is best for their children. If parents have...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 15 2022
How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

How To Play Division-I College Football: Four Requirements For Every Athlete

It is no secret that it is often a young football athlete's dream to play their favorite sport at...

ByScotty Jenkins | Mon Nov 14 2022
How GMTM Helps Athletes Get Discovered

How GMTM Helps Athletes Get Discovered

At GMTM, we believe that Athletes shouldn’t be limited in what they can achieve based on their...

ByScotty Jenkins | Thu Nov 10 2022
Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Is playing Division-II college sports worth it?

Being a Division II collegiate athlete was one of the best experiences of my entire life. Having...

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Nov 08 2022
Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five More College Football Traditions You Need To See

Part two of some of the best division 1 college football game day traditions throughout the United...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

Bucket List: Five College Football Traditions You Need To See

One of the best parts about college football are the traditions that have been around for decades....

ByScotty Jenkins | Sat Nov 05 2022
Five major benefits of playing at a large high school for hopeful recruits

Five major benefits of playing at a large high school for hopeful recruits

Quality of Competition Large high schools tend to have bigger athletic departments and budgets....

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Nov 02 2022
Eight Football Athletes Using GMTM To Find Opportunities To Play

Eight Football Athletes Using GMTM To Find Opportunities To Play

There doesn't seem to be a clear start and finish to the football season anymore. In today’s day...

ByScotty Jenkins | Fri Oct 28 2022
What are College Football’s New Overtime Rules?

What are College Football’s New Overtime Rules?

In the 21st century, major sports have had to walk an interesting tightrope. They’ve had to balance...

ByAndrew Pistone | Mon Oct 24 2022
College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

College Volleyball Recruiting: How Athletes Can Get Ahead Before High School

The first step in getting recruited by a college volleyball team is to take advantage of the...

ByScotty Jenkins | Sun Oct 23 2022
Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

Transfer Portal: Does Every Athlete Who Transfers Find A New College To Play For?

On the 15th of October, 2018 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) introduced a...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 19 2022
Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

Will Universities And Gambling Platforms Ever Join Forces?

There’s an interesting dichotomy between sports and gambling. They’re natural partners, and...

ByAndrew Pistone | Tue Oct 18 2022
The Four Best Quarterbacks Turned Wide Receivers in NFL History

The Four Best Quarterbacks Turned Wide Receivers in NFL History

Playing quarterback may be the toughest job in professional sports, with just thirty-two jobs in...

ByBryan Armetta | Sun Oct 16 2022
Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Three Tell-Tale Signs You Are Ready For College Sports

Plenty of high school athletes think they have what it takes to play sports in college. However,...

ByBryan Armetta | Thu Oct 13 2022
USA Football Hosts Adult Flag Digital Combine To Discover National Team Athletes

USA Football Hosts Adult Flag Digital Combine To Discover National Team Athletes

This fall, USA Football is hosting a Digital Combine on...

ByScotty Jenkins | Wed Oct 12 2022
How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

How Athletic Scholarships Work: A Quick Guide To Paying For College

It is no secret that college is expensive, and as time goes on, the price continues to increase....

ByScotty Jenkins | Tue Oct 11 2022