Poll: Meet Nico's Demands or Let Walk?

Meet Nico's Demands or Let Walk?

  • Renegotiate/Pay More

    Votes: 120 10.2%

  • Move on

    Votes: 1,060 89.8%
  • Total voters
    1,180
#226
#226
2.2 million would be freed up if he goes. Here are some interesting options in the portal:

College Football's Best Players in the 2025 Spring Transfer Portal​

1. Emmett Mosley V, WR, Stanford
Mosley ranked as one of the ACC's top freshmen last season after catching 48 passes for 525 yards and six scores. The Illinois native is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential and will be impact contributor right away for another team in '25. Mosley's parents both graduated from Notre Dame, including his father (Emmett Sr.) who played for the Fighting Irish from 1993-96. South Bend is a possible fit for Mosley, and the sophomore recently visited Virginia's spring practice.


2. Xavier Hill, OL, Memphis
Offensive linemen with starting experience are always in high demand in the transfer portal. Hill started his career at LSU (2020-22) before transferring to Memphis in '23. He started 26 games over the last two years and was a first-team All-AAC selection last fall. Could the Mississippi native return to his home state for another stint in the SEC - potentially at Ole Miss?

3. Joe Cotton, OL, South Dakota
With good size (6-foot-7 and 315 pounds) and experience (27 starts at South Dakota), Cotton is expected to garner significant interest from power conference teams in the portal this spring. Former South Dakota assistant Jeff Nady landed at Vanderbilt as an assistant offensive line coach this offseason. The Commodores could be a team to watch for Cotton's services in '25.


4. Jaden Rashada, QB, Georgia
Rashada is on the move again. The talented signal-caller signed to Florida out of high school but had a high-profile breakup with the program after a NIL fell apart. Rashada spent the '23 campaign at Arizona State and started two contests before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the bulk of the season. The California native left Tempe for Georgia but did not record a snap with the Bulldogs last year. According to On3, Western Kentucky, Tulane, and UConn are three teams in the mix for Rashada.


5. Braxton Fely, DL, Boise State
With teams always looking for depth or more help along the defensive line, expect Fely to attract interest from power conference teams this spring. The Utah native was a key cog for the Broncos' defense over the last two seasons and recorded nine tackles for a loss as a run stuffer on the interior in '24.

6. Jake Maikkula, OL, Stanford
Maikkula has made 16 starts over the last two seasons, including 11 for the Cardinal in '24. The Colorado native is versatile to fill in anywhere on the interior with extensive experience at guard and center.


7. Markell Samuel, OL, Appalachian State
After working as a reserve from 2020-23, Samuel stepped into a full-time starting role for the Mountaineers in '24. The North Carolina native started all 11 games and earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt honors thanks to his play over 817 snaps. Samuel's former head coach (Shawn Clark) currently works as the offensive line coach at UCF, which could be a team to watch in his recruitment. Also, both NC State and North Carolina could use offensive line help this spring.


8. TJ Harden, RB, UCLA
Harden entered the portal in the first window but has yet to find a landing spot. The California native ran for 506 yards and two scores behind a struggling UCLA offensive line last season but posted 827 yards and eight touchdown runs in '23. Harden reportedly visited Michigan State in December

9. Alexander Whitmore, DL, UNLV
The next stop in Whitmore's career will be his third at the collegiate level following stints at Austin Peay and UNLV. After recording 31 tackles (with 5.5 for a loss) in '23, Whitmore elevated his play last year. Helping UNLV to another appearance in the conference title game, Whitmore collected 40 stops (seven for a loss) and graded out as one of the team's top run stuffers (per PFF).


10. Stephen Daley, DL, Kent State
Daley was one of the few bright spots for a struggling Kent State defense in '24. The Virginia native recorded 51 stops (nine for a loss) and four sacks in 12 appearances. Per PFF, Daley was among the top run defenders in the MAC last fall.

11. Jesus Machado, LB, Tulane
Machado was projected as one of the top linebackers entering 2024 in the American Athletic Conference. However, a torn ACL suffered in the Military Bowl at the end of the '23 campaign sidelined him the entire year. His best season with the Green Wave came in '23 with 98 tackles.


12. Andrew Simpson, LB, Boise State
Simpson was a key cog for Boise State's linebacker unit over the last two seasons. The California native recorded 66 tackles (16 for a loss) in '23 and made 46 stops (with 11 for a loss) for a Broncos' defense that limited opponents to 22.6 points game last year.

Other Top Available Transfers

QB CJ Ogbonna, Buffalo
QB Dylan Rizk, UCF
RB Anthony Carrie, Georgia Tech
RB Savion Red, Nevada
RB Harrison Waylee, Wyoming
WR Sincere Brown, Campbell
WR Johntay Cook II, Washington
WR Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall
WR Naiem Simmons, South Florida
TE Gavin Hoffman, Iowa
TE Davon Mitchell, Oklahoma
DL Oliver Billotte, Kent State
DL Demon Clowney, Louisville
DL Antonio Doyle, UNLV
DL Wendell Gregory, South Carolina
DL Cam Rice, Ohio
LB Chavez Brown, North Texas
LB Luke Murphy, Eastern Michigan
LB Jayden Studio, Kent State
LB Trevor Woods, Colorado
DB Markevious Brown, Purdue
 
#227
#227
HooahVol said:
2.2 million would be freed up if he goes. Here are some interesting options in the portal:

College Football's Best Players in the 2025 Spring Transfer Portal​

1. Emmett Mosley V, WR, Stanford
Mosley ranked as one of the ACC's top freshmen last season after catching 48 passes for 525 yards and six scores. The Illinois native is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential and will be impact contributor right away for another team in '25. Mosley's parents both graduated from Notre Dame, including his father (Emmett Sr.) who played for the Fighting Irish from 1993-96. South Bend is a possible fit for Mosley, and the sophomore recently visited Virginia's spring practice.


2. Xavier Hill, OL, Memphis
Offensive linemen with starting experience are always in high demand in the transfer portal. Hill started his career at LSU (2020-22) before transferring to Memphis in '23. He started 26 games over the last two years and was a first-team All-AAC selection last fall. Could the Mississippi native return to his home state for another stint in the SEC - potentially at Ole Miss?

3. Joe Cotton, OL, South Dakota
With good size (6-foot-7 and 315 pounds) and experience (27 starts at South Dakota), Cotton is expected to garner significant interest from power conference teams in the portal this spring. Former South Dakota assistant Jeff Nady landed at Vanderbilt as an assistant offensive line coach this offseason. The Commodores could be a team to watch for Cotton's services in '25.


4. Jaden Rashada, QB, Georgia
Rashada is on the move again. The talented signal-caller signed to Florida out of high school but had a high-profile breakup with the program after a NIL fell apart. Rashada spent the '23 campaign at Arizona State and started two contests before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the bulk of the season. The California native left Tempe for Georgia but did not record a snap with the Bulldogs last year. According to On3, Western Kentucky, Tulane, and UConn are three teams in the mix for Rashada.


5. Braxton Fely, DL, Boise State
With teams always looking for depth or more help along the defensive line, expect Fely to attract interest from power conference teams this spring. The Utah native was a key cog for the Broncos' defense over the last two seasons and recorded nine tackles for a loss as a run stuffer on the interior in '24.

6. Jake Maikkula, OL, Stanford
Maikkula has made 16 starts over the last two seasons, including 11 for the Cardinal in '24. The Colorado native is versatile to fill in anywhere on the interior with extensive experience at guard and center.


7. Markell Samuel, OL, Appalachian State
After working as a reserve from 2020-23, Samuel stepped into a full-time starting role for the Mountaineers in '24. The North Carolina native started all 11 games and earned honorable mention All-Sun Belt honors thanks to his play over 817 snaps. Samuel's former head coach (Shawn Clark) currently works as the offensive line coach at UCF, which could be a team to watch in his recruitment. Also, both NC State and North Carolina could use offensive line help this spring.


8. TJ Harden, RB, UCLA
Harden entered the portal in the first window but has yet to find a landing spot. The California native ran for 506 yards and two scores behind a struggling UCLA offensive line last season but posted 827 yards and eight touchdown runs in '23. Harden reportedly visited Michigan State in December

9. Alexander Whitmore, DL, UNLV
The next stop in Whitmore's career will be his third at the collegiate level following stints at Austin Peay and UNLV. After recording 31 tackles (with 5.5 for a loss) in '23, Whitmore elevated his play last year. Helping UNLV to another appearance in the conference title game, Whitmore collected 40 stops (seven for a loss) and graded out as one of the team's top run stuffers (per PFF).


10. Stephen Daley, DL, Kent State
Daley was one of the few bright spots for a struggling Kent State defense in '24. The Virginia native recorded 51 stops (nine for a loss) and four sacks in 12 appearances. Per PFF, Daley was among the top run defenders in the MAC last fall.

11. Jesus Machado, LB, Tulane
Machado was projected as one of the top linebackers entering 2024 in the American Athletic Conference. However, a torn ACL suffered in the Military Bowl at the end of the '23 campaign sidelined him the entire year. His best season with the Green Wave came in '23 with 98 tackles.


12. Andrew Simpson, LB, Boise State
Simpson was a key cog for Boise State's linebacker unit over the last two seasons. The California native recorded 66 tackles (16 for a loss) in '23 and made 46 stops (with 11 for a loss) for a Broncos' defense that limited opponents to 22.6 points game last year.

Other Top Available Transfers

QB CJ Ogbonna, Buffalo
QB Dylan Rizk, UCF
RB Anthony Carrie, Georgia Tech
RB Savion Red, Nevada
RB Harrison Waylee, Wyoming
WR Sincere Brown, Campbell
WR Johntay Cook II, Washington
WR Christian Fitzpatrick, Marshall
WR Naiem Simmons, South Florida
TE Gavin Hoffman, Iowa
TE Davon Mitchell, Oklahoma
DL Oliver Billotte, Kent State
DL Demon Clowney, Louisville
DL Antonio Doyle, UNLV
DL Wendell Gregory, South Carolina
DL Cam Rice, Ohio
LB Chavez Brown, North Texas
LB Luke Murphy, Eastern Michigan
LB Jayden Studio, Kent State
LB Trevor Woods, Colorado
DB Markevious Brown, Purdue
Click to expand...
That’s not how it is going to work. Whoever becomes the new starter at QB will want starter level money so that $2M will just be given to Merk.
 
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#228
#228
I have stated my dislike of the current NIL. This "negotiation" and related antics are very toxic for all parties. Stop cowtowing and take a stand. Follow your original contract or hit the bricks. I don't care if we won the national championship last year, don't give in.
 
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#231
#231
Pride85 said:
I have stated my dislike of the current NIL. This "negotiation" and related antics are very toxic for all parties. Stop cowtowing and take a stand. Follow your original contract or hit the bricks. I don't care if we won the national championship last year, don't give in.
Click to expand...
If we won a natty cmon now. Volnation would personally gofundme that money.
 
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#232
#232
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
Well, people are saying "he's mediocre" and "he's average at best" and such.

If so, a helluva lot of NFL boards are getting it wrong.

I'll agree we don't need the drama but it's kind of like Dennis Rodman and the Bulls. The drama sucked but the 20 rebounds a game put you in the playoffs.
Click to expand...
Draft boards get it wrong all the time and typically have gotten it wrong more times than not at the QB position in particular the last 5-6 years. Anthony Richardson and Will Levi’s were both top 10 projected picks. QBs go as high as they do now because of how desperate NFL teams are for a QB because the position no longer gets developed like it once did. Also outside of the deep ball against Bama and TD to Brazzell nothing Nico did put us in the playoffs, and truth be told Milroe’s bad play and Jermod McCoy’s pick in the endzone was a bigger factor in us winning that game than Nico and his play against a very average Arkansas team cost us home field advantage and possibly a better matchup
 
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#235
#235
Flogballs said:
UPDATE - skipping practice!? Cut him loose and file suit!
Click to expand...

And this is where NIL might finally get clipped. Is the contract enforceable or not?

If so, then little Nico should be precluded from playing somewhere else.

If not, then the sport is screeed.

It cannot be a one-way street that only protects the player.
 
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#237
#237
VawlIn said:
Draft boards get it wrong all the time and typically have gotten it wrong more times than not at the QB position in particular the last 5-6 years. Anthony Richardson and Will Levi’s were both top 10 projected picks. QBs go as high as they do now because of how desperate NFL teams are for a QB because the position no longer gets developed like it once did. Also outside of the deep ball against Bama and TD to Brazzell nothing Nico did put us in the playoffs, and truth be told Milroe’s bad play and Jermod McCoy’s pick in the endzone was a bigger factor in us winning that game than Nico and his play against a very average Arkansas team cost us home field advantage and possibly a better matchup
Click to expand...
Sure, but Nico's goal in life is to get a good NFL draft position, which he currently has, get drafted and get a nice signing bonus and try to have an NFL career that gets him a big second contract and REAL wealth.

I'm not saying he'll definitely be the #2 or 3 QB in the draft but he's looking at that long-term and not at college as a big deal.

He needs to develop in college (and the boards seem to think that's going fine) and not tank his stock (I'm looking at you Spencer Rattler) in his last year.

Pretty much any Power 4 school can make that possible for him if he can, apparently, do no worse than he has at UT....... which many here think is mediocre.

He doesn't need UT now as much as UT might..... and might not...... need him.
 
#238
#238
harrit4 said:
Running Nico means bringing in something like the following: The Nate Peterman who started in the Swamp that one time, JG, who never really got it done, Quiten Dormady who never had it, never will, Will McBride, did that guy ever start? Keller Chryst, Lord Almighty! Maurer, Bailey, and Shrout Oh My! BJ Coleman, Nick Stephens and Matt Simms? I can't make these names up, but I don't ever want to go back down that list of names again. Please pay Nico what ever he wants, and O-line, please give Employee #8 more time to operate back there in the pocket already.
Click to expand...
YOU ARE COMPLETELY DELUSIONAL! Nico is mainly hype. Having the skills doesn't mean you have the leadership, work ethic, and have what it takes between the ears! His decision making all year or lack of decision making didn't prove anything at all for him to be deemed worth more than 2 million. If anything, it made the vast majority wonder why in the hell he was getting 2 million!
 
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#241
#241
The potential fallout if he leaves is more concerning. Don’t think this will be a one player swing.
 
#244
#244
IUGradVol said:
Good riddance then. No one player is bigger than the team. Period.
Click to expand...
I don’t disagree on the message, but do believe it’ll have a bigger impact than just Nico. Team left the conversation once fans said players need to be paid and started doing it.
 
#248
#248
harrit4 said:
Running Nico means bringing in something like the following: The Nate Peterman who started in the Swamp that one time, JG, who never really got it done, Quiten Dormady who never had it, never will, Will McBride, did that guy ever start? Keller Chryst, Lord Almighty! Maurer, Bailey, and Shrout Oh My! BJ Coleman, Nick Stephens and Matt Simms? I can't make these names up, but I don't ever want to go back down that list of names again. Please pay Nico what ever he wants, and O-line, please give Employee #8 more time to operate back there in the pocket already.
Click to expand...
Or someone like Hendon Hooker....
 
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#250
#250
I have no skin in the game as I am a Buckeye fan. But as an outsider looking in, I would opine that it's probably prudent to pay the asking price unless you are sure you can land someone of at least equal ability. Who else are you going to get ? It's not like there is an unlimited supply of QB talent that is able to meet the demands of the program. And what becomes available will also be heavily recruited by other teams. You will probably end up in a bidding war anyways. People don't like the new dynamics in the NIL era. But this is just the new reality of football in the NIL era. Everyone is complaining about NIL but it is pointless. You have to adapt and that's just the way it is.

Nico is still developing but it would be short-sighted to let him walk without a sure replacement in mind. You don't need a future HOF QB. You just need a good QB. And Nico is already good and has the potential to be great with the right supporting cast. After watching the matchup here in December, my opinion was Tn has no issue at QB. They do need more support elsewhere. OSU was dominating the trenches. Nico had little time to throw and he spent most of the game running around in the backfield. No QB is going to thrive when that happens. I saw no issue with Nico. It was other factors that led to the lopsided performance result.
 
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