UNLV is new to the world of college football relevancy, and this offseason the program is getting a crash course in everything that comes with it.
For a successful Group of Five program, it means waging a never-ending war on the NIL — name, image and likeness licensing — front, as better-funded power conference schools circle, looking to poach the best players from the roster.
UNLV was hit particularly hard two weeks ago, when freshman quarterback Jayden Maiava reversed course and announced he would enter the transfer portal just days after declaring himself committed to UNLV.
Maiava is headed to the University of Southern California after considering offers from both the Trojans and another college football powerhouse, Georgia. The two schools both have boosters that can offer lucrative NIL licensing packages.
Still stinging from that defection, UNLV boosters are now rallying to protect the program’s biggest remaining star.
According to multiple sources, record-setting receiver Ricky White is being aggressively courted by power programs, prompting donors to begin a behind-the-scenes effort to increase his NIL payout and entice him to stay at UNLV.
White, an All-American, is not in the transfer portal and told media at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl that he was staying at UNLV for his senior season, but Maiava also told reporters the same at the same event. Losing both in the same offseason would be a huge blow after the duo was instrumental in helping engineer the team’s remarkable turnaround in 2023.
White caught 88 passes for a school-record 1,483 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, proving to be a perfect fit in the go-go offense installed by coordinator Brennan Marion. UNLV went 9-3 in the regular season under head coach Barry Odom and reached the Mountain West championship game for the first time, losing to Boise State at Allegiant Stadium.
UNLV is up against some heavy hitters in the effort to retain White.
One source told the Sun that an NIL collective has been working in recent weeks to reallocate donations from the general athletics fund to an NIL fund earmarked for White. Another source said it was because White has an offer on the table worth $250,000 in NIL money to transfer to Notre Dame.
Last week, it was reported that the NIL Collective for Clemson football paid $2.4 million to players, according to IRS filings.
Those amounts dwarf what UNLV can presently offer White.
According to multiple sources, White is set to make $60,000 at UNLV in 2024. That’s a big increase from last year, when the total NIL budget for the UNLV football team was minimal, but it might not be enough to fend off power programs dangling six-figure offers.
The UNLV Football Foundation, a donor group consisting of local boosters and alumni, is now working with the Friends of UNILV collective, an NIL program benefiting UNLV student-athletes, to get White another significant salary boost.
UNLV didn't make White or Odom available for comment.
White responded to the story on social media by calling it "False news" in a quote-Tweet:
When the Sun reached out to White's father, Ricky White Sr., by phone, he also declined to comment. White Sr. did respond on social media, saying "my son has never spoken with any colleges about any NIL packages."
Any school negotiating directly with Ricky White would be committing a recruiting violation, as he is not currently in the transfer portal. For that reason, coaches are not allowed to coordinate with NIL collectives, which operate independently from sports programs.
Bill Paulos serves as the chairman of the Friends of UNILV and has been instrumental in securing competitive NIL packages for several players on the UNLV basketball team. He could not confirm the Notre Dame offer to White, but noted that the UNLV football program was just getting started on the NIL front and would have a tough time matching that figure.
It’s an inherent issue that comes with being a winning program in a smaller conference.
“If Notre Dame comes and says, ‘We’re willing to give you $250,000,’ and Ricky says (to UNLV), ‘Well, if you give me $250,000, I’ll stay,’ there’s a point in time where you’ve got to tell him we’d love you to stay, Ricky, but we don’t have $250,000.
“There’s that point where you’ve got to financially walk away because you can’t pay,” Paulos continued. “That’s the problem that you have.”
UNLV has been active in the transfer portal since it reopened in December. In the past few weeks, Odom has secured commitments from Texas receiver Casey Cain, North Carolina State running back Michael Allen, New Mexico State cornerback Jeremiah Vassell and Texas safety Jalen Catalon.
Earlier this month the program received a commitment from Campbell University quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, who could serve as Maiava’s replacement in 2024.
If UNLV is able to hold onto White, it could be set up for another banner campaign in 2024. In the meantime, his precarious situation is a harbinger of UNLV’s future in the new college football landscape.
Paulos believes Odom will be able to navigate the NIL battlegrounds and keep UNLV on an upward trajectory — but a little extra money wouldn’t hurt.
“Barry Odom is an excellent coach who players love to play for, and who knows what his idea of going forward at UNLV is going to look like,” Paulos said. “He has a plan. I think we need to trust that.
“Coach Odom did what he did this year with virtually zero NIL. So kids want to play for him. Are kids going to leave? Yeah, probably. Are kids still going to come and want to play for coach Odom? Absolutely. And if we’re able to supply those NIL scenarios to as many of those 85 kids as we possibly can? All the better.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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