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Antoine Jackson and Jaden Rashada are the epitome of NIL chaos

By Benjamin Henderson

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Florida Gators commit Jaden Rashada looks on during the second half of a game between the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Florida Gators commit Jaden Rashada looks on during the second half of a game between the Florida Gators and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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As more and more details come out regarding the NIL deal Jaden Rashada signed, it becomes clear that Rashada had very little to do with the proceedings and it was the people around him that screwed things up for the QB.

It is now evident that NIL anarchy is the new norm in college football as University of Miami commit Antione Jackson has asked to be freed from his NIL contract.

Show me the NIL money

It is easy to point and laugh at Miami because of how comical it is they have lost out on three notable recruits once committed to the Hurricanes. It is even more comical when John Ruiz, Mr. LifeWallet, runs around trolling fans on Twitter all day long only to never bother looking in the mirror once.

The sobering reality is that the current structure of getting paid in college football is filled with contracts that third parties have to negotiate. When those third parties screw up and write checks that can’t be cashed, it’s the programs themselves that suffer.

Rashada by all accounts seemed like he wanted to be a Florida Gator heading into last summer, but then he made an about-face and went to Miami. Whether it was Miami being terrible or whether he was chasing dollars, he made another about-face and committed to Florida. Once that check never materialized, Jaden Rashada convinced himself that Arizona State is his dream school.

Do you, but you are now seeing Antione Jackson begin the same journey. Jackson committed to Georgia in March, then flipped to Miami in July. Whether he was enticed by a paycheck or just wanted to stay home, Jackson signed his letter of intent in December and all seemed well.

But now as details will emerge surrounding Jackson’s NIL deal, one would have to wonder if a deal was made that isn’t coming to fruition. It does nothing but hurt the players. If he winds up at East Carolina, are we supposed to believe that the Pirates are his dream school?

Or if he winds up with Coach Prime in Colorado and follows the path that Cormani McClain did, are we supposed to believe that Boulder is his dream destination?

And yes, Boulder, Colorado does look like a pristine area, but a high school player from Florida does not grow up dreaming of being a Buffalo.

Hopefully, as time moves forward, tales like this become less and less because no one wins. Players should get paid, and given the money surrounding college football they should get paid well.

But there needs to be a more streamlined system that eliminates the third parties cutting checks that can’t be cashed.

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