Monday, Kirby Smart said he was not “whining” about NIL and called it “awesome” that college athletes can now get paid, after backlash to comments suggesting players are less hungry once they earn big money.
Smart said his real concern is the long-term effect of early earning power—whether players understand the value of money and stay motivated when real-world jobs may pay about $60,000.
He added that NIL has changed recruiting, with coaches now needing to judge which players can handle significant income without it hurting their commitment to team culture and performance.
Smart also pointed to a structural factor beyond NIL: the 2025 House settlement’s 105-player roster cap, which he said has made teams practice less physically because injuries are harder to absorb.
The debate lands amid broader upheaval in college football, where NIL and the transfer portal have accelerated parity by making rapid roster turnarounds and faster program rebuilds more common.