How UF Should Actually Spend a $30M NIL Budget

[jaywalker72]

If UF actually has ~$30M to work with, this is how you spend it to win games, not headlines.

UF NIL MODEL — $30M TOTAL

OFFENSE ($14.4M)

QB ($5.0M): QB1 $3.8–4.3M | QB2 $0.5–0.8M | Dev $0.1–0.2M

OL ($4.6M, 8–9 playable): 2 OTs $2.2–2.6M | IOL(3) $1.2–1.5M | Swing OT/depth $0.8–1.0M

WR ($2.6M): WR1 $1.4–1.8M | WR2 $0.6–0.9M | WR3/4 $0.3–0.5M

RB ($1.3M): RB1 $500–750k | RB2 $250–350k | RB3 $150–200k

TE/H ($0.9M): mismatch + blocker

DEFENSE ($12.6M)

Edge ($3.6M): Edge1 $1.4–1.8M | Edge2 $0.8–1.1M | Rot(2) $0.5–0.7M

IDL ($2.9M): DT1/DT2 $1.6–2.0M | Rot(3) $0.7–0.9M

CB ($3.2M): CB1 $1.3–1.7M | CB2 $0.7–1.0M | Nickel/depth $0.5–0.7M

S ($1.6M): 2 starters + depth

LB ($1.3M): starters + depth

RETENTION / ST / BUFFER ($3.0M)

Specialists $0.5M | Retention $2.0M | Portal/emergency $0.5M

It buys:

• Elite QB play
• Dominant line play
• Difference-makers at Edge and CB
• Depth that survives injuries and the portal.

That combination is what every recent champion has had.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

Good thoughts. One of the things that turns this sideways is that there's no rookie scale for the depth. So you sign these blue chips out of high school that are really just depth initially, but it seems like they are getting starter money.

But if you try not to do that you are leaning pretty heavily on the portal every year.

 

[jaywalker72]

Good thoughts. One of the things that turns this sideways is that there's no rookie scale for the depth. So you sign these blue chips out of high school that are really just depth initially, but it seems like they are getting starter money.

But if you try not to do that you are leaning pretty heavily on the portal every year.

For sure. Better not miss on evals, whether HS or portal.

 

[g8tr72]

Put buyout clauses (money to the schools) in the NIL contracts.

If another school wants our player, they have to at least match our NIL money AND pay the buyout.

That will cutout some of this madness.

 

[MJMGator]

Put buyout clauses (money to the schools) in the NIL contracts.

If another school wants our player, they have to at least match our NIL money AND pay the buyout.

That will cutout some of this madness.

Their agents will steer them elsewhere.

 

[GatorJ]

I’d be surprised if you have to pay a CB1 that kind of money.

Jaden Baugh has been offered over $1 million from Texas. So we will see how that goes. I think our offer will be about around there.

I think you’re gonna have to pay more for a top-tier receiver. Those are probably the numbers for the receivers we’ve had. But I think the best receivers are gonna be over $3 million. I think Jeremiah Smith’s at almost $5M. The biggest problem with that is that if your top guy gets hurt, your NIL goes bust.

I’d like to see NIL contracts be only one or two years. This gives flexibility to both the player and the team. Really good players aren’t gonna be around for more than three years anyway.

 

[jaywalker72]

I’d be surprised if you have to pay a CB1 that kind of money.

Jaden Baugh has been offered over $1 million from Texas. So we will see how that goes. I think our offer will be about around there.

I think you’re gonna have to pay more for a top-tier receiver. Those are probably the numbers for the receivers we’ve had. But I think the best receivers are gonna be over $3 million. I think Jeremiah Smith’s at almost $5M. The biggest problem with that is that if your top guy gets hurt, your NIL goes bust.

I’d like to see NIL contracts be only one or two years. This gives flexibility to both the player and the team. Really good players aren’t gonna be around for more than three years anyway.

An elite RB like we all believe Baugh is should be considered a luxury item. I’d love to have him back, but the difference between his production and what you might replace him with in my budget is not as great as the difference in OL, for example.

 

[fischerwood]

I would recommend tying to performance based payout. Example Offer full amount based on performance targets met not just all upfront. Once a player has the $, the incentive just isn't as high (human nature)if paid upfront.
That's the way of the real world and in pro sports

 

[GatorJ]

I think you’re seeing a lot of NIL casualty going on right now with our portal.

Grimsley - been hurt his entire time here. Just a drain on NIL.

Castell - really good freshman freshman year. But is not athletic enough or good enough to play in the SEC. You can find someone better for what we’re paying him in NIL.

Lagway - injury prone and way too high of an NIL payout for his production.

Mizell - injury prone. Also not a very good route runner and has no shake. You can find equivalent receivers for his NIL.

Hawkins - just a gadget receiver

Amir Jackson - I don’t think this one is an NIL casualty. Although his production has been virtually nil since he’s been here. From everything that I’ve read, he just didn’t feel like he meshed with Buster‘s personality.

Pup Howard - injury prone. But I would’ve liked to have kept this guy.

KD Daniels - atrocious pass blocker. Solid rusher. But we can find a replacement for him. Not worth the NIL.

Teddy Foster - not SEC caliber

Mascoll - not SEC caliber

Josiah Davis - couldn’t crack the safety rotation where we had walk-on’s playing. Not SEC caliber.

Tounkara - not SEC caliber

 

[GatorJ]

An elite RB like we all believe Baugh is should be considered a luxury item. I’d love to have him back, but the difference between his production and what you might replace him with in my budget is not as great as the difference in OL, for example.

I agree. That’s a lot of money for a running back and I would not consider it a knock on this staff if he left for money. Good for Baugh and understandable for the staff. Running backs have short lives. And this upcoming year is his last year anyway.

But I think he actually would have a bigger year under Texas’ offense. Carries aren’t really split under that offense and they routinely have a 1000 yard back. He would be a Heisman contender.

The biggest issue about him going to Texas would be the optics if he had a Heisman like year.

 

[jaywalker72]

I agree. That’s a lot of money for a running back and I would not consider it a knock on this staff if he left for money. Good for Baugh and understandable for the staff. Running backs have short lives. And this upcoming year is his last year anyway.

But I think he actually would have a bigger year under Texas’ offense. Carries aren’t really split under that offense and they routinely have a 1000 yard back. He would be a Heisman contender.

The biggest issue about him going to Texas would be the optics if he had a Heisman like year.

A different thread but he’s not winning a Heisman with Manning there. Arch is the Heisman guy. One has to accept that at Texas right now, with the money, of course.

 

[GatorJ]

A different thread but he’s not winning a Heisman with Manning there. Arch is the Heisman guy. One has to accept that at Texas right now, with the money, of course.

I think it depends. If he runs for 1500 yards, he’ll be a front runner.

 

[neteng]

Lol...the premise of this post that UF has a 30m NIL budget is hilarious.

I think we still got that same fuggin 16.8m NIL budget we had before.

 

[GatorJB]

I agree. That’s a lot of money for a running back and I would not consider it a knock on this staff if he left for money. Good for Baugh and understandable for the staff. Running backs have short lives. And this upcoming year is his last year anyway.

But I think he actually would have a bigger year under Texas’ offense. Carries aren’t really split under that offense and they routinely have a 1000 yard back. He would be a Heisman contender.

The biggest issue about him going to Texas would be the optics if he had a Heisman like year.

Don't we play Texas again this year? If we're going to lose him, I prefer he go to a team we won't play. But I also believe he could have a great year with us if he stays. If you're paying a RB 1 million+ a year, then he should be getting 20 touches a game at minimum.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

I think you’re seeing a lot of NIL casualty going on right now with our portal.

Grimsley - been hurt his entire time here. Just a drain on NIL.

Castell - really good freshman freshman year. But is not athletic enough or good enough to play in the SEC. You can find someone better for what we’re paying him in NIL.

Lagway - injury prone and way too high of an NIL payout for his production.

Mizell - injury prone. Also not a very good route runner and has no shake. You can find equivalent receivers for his NIL.

Hawkins - just a gadget receiver

Amir Jackson - I don’t think this one is an NIL casualty. Although his production has been virtually nil since he’s been here. From everything that I’ve read, he just didn’t feel like he meshed with Buster‘s personality.

Pup Howard - injury prone. But I would’ve liked to have kept this guy.

KD Daniels - atrocious pass blocker. Solid rusher. But we can find a replacement for him. Not worth the NIL.

Teddy Foster - not SEC caliber

Mascoll - not SEC caliber

Josiah Davis - couldn’t crack the safety rotation where we had walk-on’s playing. Not SEC caliber.

Tounkara - not SEC caliber

Spot on. Post more and more of your evaluations. Thanks.

 

[Thick&ThinG8r]

The DT offer vs the edge is ridiculous.
Elite DTs are rare and need to be secured early as possible.
Edges are a dime a dozen.

 

[jaywalker72]

Lol...the premise of this post that UF has a 30m NIL budget is hilarious.

I think we still got that same fuggin 16.8m NIL budget we had before.

You may be right. Even more reason not to prioritize the RB position.

 

[neteng]

You may be right. Even more reason not to prioritize the RB position.

We are going to find out real soon when that portal officially opens on 2 Jan.

 

[GatorJ]

Lol...the premise of this post that UF has a 30m NIL budget is hilarious.

I think we still got that same fuggin 16.8m NIL budget we had before.

I think that is dependent on what you call NIL. Around $15 million will be coming from the TV deal. If our guys put up another $15 million then it could be around $30 million.

Which by the way is utterly ridiculous.

I would like to see NIL actually be NIL. Not collectives or boosters driving money to pay players. Then make the players employees of the UAA with published contracts outside of NIL.

This is both good and bad for athletes IMO. Yes it allows them to get paid, but also allows them to be thrown away. Some kids may get injured early and take a couple years to blossom. But they will not in this system. It will become highly competitive and dog eat dog.

 

[neteng]

I think that is dependent on what you call NIL. Around $15 million will be coming from the TV deal. If our guys put up another $15 million then it could be around $30 million.

Which by the way is utterly ridiculous.

I would like to see NIL actually be NIL. Not collectives or boosters driving money to pay players. Then make the players employees of the UAA with published contracts outside of NIL.

This is both good and bad for athletes IMO. Yes it allows them to get paid, but also allows them to be thrown away. Some kids may get injured early and take a couple years to blossom. But they will not in this system. It will become highly competitive and dog eat dog.

However you want to add up the money and sort into different piles...UF is still going to be about 10 million short of what top programs are paying. That was my point.