The day of college athletes being exploited for their likeness is a thing of the past. With current NCAA rules and regulations and the prominence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, collegiate superstars can finally get paid for their work on the field, court, and more.

A recent University of Miami recruit, Jaden Rashada, is believed to have received the highest-known NIL deal for a high school recruit to date – according to On3NIL.

At $9.5 million, the deal is set to possibly break records, but it did not come without its share of controversy.

The Devil Is In The Details

Since Rashada’s commitment to the University of Miami, there have been rumors about his NIL deal’s financial implications. Speculators allege that the top-ranked high school quarterback turned down offers from the University of Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M for a more lucrative NIL deal associated with the Miami Hurricanes.

However, Michael W. Caspino, Rashada’s attorney and representative, jumped in to discourage any ideas that the athlete’s decision was based solely on money.

“Jaden left millions on the table,” Caspino, said in a statement. ” He did not pick the highest offer. He went there because he loves Miami, the coaches, and the opportunity.”

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Despite much of the controversy around his decision, Rashada’s Miami NIL deal — said to be worth $9.5 million — is massive.

NIL And The Future Of Miami

NIL deals have changed the game for college recruiting. Players and fans have long argued that college athletes should be paid for their likeness. However, NCAA officials were starchily against it. That all changed in June 2021.

In the Supreme Court case, NCAA v. Alston, the court unanimously ruled that the NCAA could no longer limit education-related payments made to student-athletes. Based on this ruling, the NCAA deferred to states on how they would implement NIL deals, and for states with no such laws — regulation was left in the hands of the colleges and universities.

Understanding this change in rules, the University of Miami is ecstatic to add Rashada to its ranks. While historically known as a college football juggernaut, the Florida-based school has not seen a major winning season since 2003. Landing a top high school recruit like Rashada will hopefully change that narrative. The news about the substantial NIL deals will likely draw more interest in the college’s athletic department.