Whaddya Know, Keon Coleman’s Impending Transfer Out Of Michigan State Is Reportedly About NIL Money
In case you haven't noticed, college football has descended into total anarchy lately.
The advent of the transfer portal, immediate eligibility, and Name, Image, and Likeness have opened an NCAA version of Pandora's Box. NIL is responsible for most of that chaos.
Players have long sought payment for their services. Now they're getting it — above the table — which reasonable people should support. The problem is that there's utterly no regulation, thanks to the feckless NCAA.
The rules stipulate that NIL cannot be leveraged as a recruiting mechanism. But that's exactly what's happening (because the recreant NCAA has abdicated all responsibility and won't even attempt to enforce its own rules here, instead taking the coward's way out and waiting for the federal government to clean up its mess). Keon Coleman is just the latest example.
Coleman, who's entering his junior year and was primed to be the focal point of MIchigan State's offense in 2023, entered the transfer portal ahead of Sunday's deadline. Various sources and publications have reported that Coleman doesn't want to leave MSU, but he allegedly believes he's worth more than he's getting in East Lansing.
Here's more from On3's JD PicKell:
Keon Coleman, to put it bluntly, essentially feels like he is worth a certain amount and wants to test the open market because Michigan State isn’t able to meet that amount.
There are rumblings that at least one school of a particular southeasterly persuasion has made an overture to Coleman. Multiple media outlets have also reported that this wouldn't be the first time MSU has had to repel would-be poachers coming for Coleman. Purportedly, State has had to deal with this same kind of thing during the last two offseasons.
This time, though, MSU may not have enough to fend off other suitors. Despite a reported meeting with Spartans head coach Mel Tucker, Coleman posted a statement on social media Wednesday that didn't exactly sound like someone who's open to returning to East Lansing.
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There's a lot of speculation out there, and a lot that we simply just don't know about this situation. But it's reasonable to wonder if, after having to up the ante to keep this guy the last two years, MSU has finally had enough of working to make Coleman want to be here.
Regardless, you can't blame the guy for wanting a better deal. Those of you out there who are upset at Coleman for seeking a more lucrative NIL package are hypocrites of the highest order. We ALL would like more money. The difference with Coleman is that he's in a position to demand and command it.
If you're pissed off about it, be pissed at the NCAA, NOT a 19-year-old from the bayou who's running down a dream and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cash in on his abilities.