LaNorris Sellers Shows Loyalty, Diego Pavia Blasts Big Ten, & Pac-12 Expansion Talks Continue
According to The Athletic, the South Carolina quarterback turned down a two-year, $8 million NIL deal to remain with the Gamecocks for a third season.
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Dudes Of The Week 😤
Kalen DeBoer
Head Coach, Alabama
Similarly to how the Crimson Tide recruited under former head coach Nick Saban, Alabama is turning a slow start to the 2026 cycle into early summer success.
On Tuesday morning, Kalen DeBoer’s unit won over the commitment of four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla, who flipped to Alabama from Iowa State.
Per 247Sports, Thomalla ranks as the top prospect out of Nebraska, while residing as the 15th-best gunslinger in his class.
In March, the 6’4” signal caller announced a top five consisting of Iowa State, Missouri, Duke, Arizona, and Virginia Tech.
Alabama then extended Thomalla an offer on May 15, just two weeks before he took an official Tuscaloosa.
LaNorris Sellers
Quarterback, South Carolina
Contrary to popular belief, loyalty and pride still run rampant throughout college football — even at the NIL era’s height.
According to a report published by The Athletic, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers turned down a two-year, $8 million NIL deal to remain with the Gamecocks for a third season.
“He was offered all kinds of crazy numbers,” Sellers’ father, Norris, told The Athletic. “… We didn’t come here to make money. We came here to get our education, play ball, and with schools calling, we’re not going to jump ship because they’re offering more than what we’re getting.”
“You’re 19 [years old]. You don’t need [$8 million],” he continued.
Last year, the South Carolina native amassed 2,534 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through the air, coupled with 674 yards on the ground as a dual-threat commodity.
Dallas Wilson
Wide Receiver, Florida
The Gators ended the 2024 campaign as hot as any SEC squad, highlighted by four-straight victories over the likes of LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State, and Tulane.
Now, after securing the nation’s 9th-best recruiting class, Florida is prepped to enter this fall as a dark horse College Football Playoff contender.
According to CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer, fans should keep their eyes peeled for true-freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson, who could serve as an instant contributor on the outside for quarterback DJ Lagway.
Wilson enrolled in January and quickly showcased his blue-chip playstyle to the Gator faithful during the program’s spring game.
The former top-50 overall prospect hauled in 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns during the intrasquad affair in April.
“If the buzz behind the scenes is any indication, he could end up playing an even larger role for the Gators this year,” Hummer wrote.
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Mood Tracker Across Fanbases 🤯
Vanderbilt 📈
Overhauled
Before transfer quarterback Diego Pavia arrived in Nashville, Vanderbilt hadn’t finished a season with a winning record in 10 years.
After winning seven games last year, highlighted by upsets over Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia Tech, Pavia recently assured Commodore nation that Vanderbilt’s ascension is here to stay.
“Vanderbilt is going to run Tennessee after this year,” Pavia said on the Bussin’ With The Boys Podcast. “This is going to be the new staple of college football. It’s going to happen here at Vanderbilt.”
With the campus’ location adjacent to downtown Nashville, Pavia believes that Vanderbilt’s landscape and NIL pull will entice the region’s best products to eventually reinvent the program’s outside perception.
“We literally just have to win this year, and throughout the rest of the year, it’ll take care of itself,” he added.
Additionally, Pavia said players who want to “play with the best” do not want to play in the Big Ten.
“You ignore those calls,” Pavia said on transfer portal intrigue from Big Ten coaches. “You know that.”
Texas State 📈
Up-&-Coming
The Bobcats have played at the FBS level for just 14 seasons, but with an enrollment of over 40,000 students, collective interest for high-caliber football continues to expand.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Texas State is a “heavy favorite” to become the next school invited to join the revamped Pac-12 Conference.
Last season, head coach GJ Kinne’s led the Bobcats to an 8-5 campaign, helping Texas State earn back-to- back winning seasons for the first time at the Division I-A level.
The program has been a part of the Sun Belt since 2013. If it decides to leave the league ahead of the 2026 season, it must notify the conference by July 1 to avoid a $5 million buyout rising to $10 million.
Thamel said Texas State has “clearly emerged at the forefront of that group” for potential Pac-12 suitors — a massive turn of events since winning only 20 games throughout a seven-year span from 2016 to 2022.
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Who Made Money This Week? 💰
Tristen Keys
Verbal Commit (WR), LSU
The nation’s top wide receiver prospect is racking up NIL deals with two months to go before his final high school campaign begins.
Five-star pass catcher Tristen Keys recently signed an endorsement with Adidas, marking a key shift in sports marketing.
According to On3, Keys’ NIL valuation is currently worth $536,000, and Adidas jumped on the opportunity to represent him before enrolling at the collegiate level.
Keys has been committed to LSU since March, and he’s mentioned that Brian Kelly’s staff “treats [him] like [he’s] still a top recruit.”
However, the Mississippi native recently took official visits to Miami, Texas A&M, and Tennessee.
Last Friday, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Keys is expected to land an NIL package worth “between $500K and $1 million as a freshman.”
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