This is starting to reveal itself ... all this will work out over the years, but paying a ton of money upfront is a fools errand. The best combinations are:
- Do your best with high school (HS) recruiting, but don't blow the budget. That's your base from which to build your culture.
- Re-recruit your roster, trying to get as many as you want and can get to stay with NIL.
- Focus NIL on the older, more experienced players who may be able to go into the NFL in later rounds, and get them NIL to stay another year. Point out you can pay them close to the NFL minimum but also give them a chance to go higher when they finally go to the NFL.
- For those who aren't going to get PT, let them know and expect them to move on. If you aren't a top program, understand you will lose some of your best players.
- Fill in the cracks each year with portal transfers, spending more money on proven talent.
- Keep HS recruiting.