I had a talk today with someone in the know. A very wealthy friend that knows top donors from many programs. He has followed PSU. Surprisingly from what he shared PSUs NIL is not as bad as its been made out to be. I'm not saying we're Texas or OSU level but they have money to compete for top targets, but they "choose" not to at least at the level they need to.
The biggest problem is Franklins strategy. He doesn't believe in overpaying or getting in bidding wars for top targets. Not saying we wont get a few Olesh's and Kevin Browns but if they had a more aggressive mindset with NIL, we'd have more top targets.
It lines with what was said at the NIL event I was at with Joe Panos in Philly. They straight up said we'll never be the highest bidder. Instead they want to be a "developmental" school that gets high 3 low 4 stars and under the radar guys and develops them. Franklin is concerned with not upsetting the Lockeroom. He doesn't want to cause a riff paying a Brandon Finney $400k when vets are making $200k...just for an example.
This guy is friends with one of OSUs top donors. OSU doesn't give a crap about offending players that are just average. If 3 star or low 4 star 3rd year player at OSU gets upset because OSU just paid $2mil for Jeremiah Smith they DGAF because 3 stars a dime a dozen.
It is now a pro football model and PSU is managing it like its still old time CFB.
The biggest problem is Franklins strategy. He doesn't believe in overpaying or getting in bidding wars for top targets. Not saying we wont get a few Olesh's and Kevin Browns but if they had a more aggressive mindset with NIL, we'd have more top targets.
It lines with what was said at the NIL event I was at with Joe Panos in Philly. They straight up said we'll never be the highest bidder. Instead they want to be a "developmental" school that gets high 3 low 4 stars and under the radar guys and develops them. Franklin is concerned with not upsetting the Lockeroom. He doesn't want to cause a riff paying a Brandon Finney $400k when vets are making $200k...just for an example.
This guy is friends with one of OSUs top donors. OSU doesn't give a crap about offending players that are just average. If 3 star or low 4 star 3rd year player at OSU gets upset because OSU just paid $2mil for Jeremiah Smith they DGAF because 3 stars a dime a dozen.
It is now a pro football model and PSU is managing it like its still old time CFB.
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