Nick Saban questions recruiting system after Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis deal
Nick Saban questions recruiting system after Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis deal
Nick Saban Questions Recruiting System After Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis Deal
Nick Saban, the legendary head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, has long been a pillar in the world of college football, shaping the sport with his remarkable coaching acumen and his ability to attract top-tier talent year after year. However, even Saban, who has built one of the most successful programs in college football history, is raising questions about the direction of college recruiting—especially following the recent commitments of two of the most sought-after high school quarterbacks in the nation: Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis.
The recruiting system in college football has undergone dramatic changes in recent years, driven largely by the explosion of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals, the rise of the transfer portal, and increasing scrutiny of how college programs approach recruitment. The combination of these factors has made recruiting even more complex, and as Saban navigates this evolving landscape, he has started to voice concerns about the integrity and fairness of the system, especially in light of the new deals involving Underwood and Lewis.
Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis: The New Faces of College Football Recruiting
Bryce Underwood and Julian Lewis are two of the most highly rated high school quarterbacks in the 2025 recruiting class. They are the latest in a long line of five-star recruits who are expected to reshape the future of college football with their immense talent. Underwood, a prodigious quarterback from Michigan, has been turning heads with his powerful arm and advanced football IQ, while Lewis, an Atlanta native, has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Both players are expected to be foundational pieces for their respective college programs, with top-tier schools across the nation vying for their commitments.
However, it wasn’t just their football skills that were making headlines. The commitments of these two quarterbacks have become the center of controversy, due to the deals they are reportedly being offered in exchange for their commitment to specific programs. Underwood and Lewis, still in high school, have been thrust into the center of the recruiting world, with NIL deals already being discussed even before their official recruitment decisions have been made. These deals reportedly involve large sums of money, which has raised questions about the role of NIL in the recruitment process.
Nick Saban’s Reaction to the Changing Landscape
Nick Saban, known for his strong opinions on the state of college football, recently voiced his concerns about the impact that these types of NIL-driven recruitment deals could have on the integrity of the sport. In an interview discussing the Underwood and Lewis situations, Saban was candid in his assessment of the current recruiting landscape. The Alabama coach questioned whether the traditional recruiting model was being undermined by these lucrative NIL agreements, suggesting that the system might be increasingly driven by financial incentives rather than a genuine desire to play for a school or develop as a player.
“It’s frustrating,” Saban said, addressing the growing trend of NIL-induced commitments. “You’ve got guys who are still in high school and they’re getting deals that some of us in the coaching profession wouldn’t have imagined just a few years ago. It’s turning into something different than what it was when we were recruiting players based on what they could bring to the team and how they would develop in our programs. Now, there’s so much money involved, and we’re starting to question what’s driving decisions.”
Saban’s comments are particularly telling, considering his long-standing reputation as one of the most successful recruiters in college football. He has built Alabama into a football powerhouse by recruiting top-tier talent year after year, and his system of player development has become the gold standard in the sport. Yet, as the recruiting landscape shifts, even Saban finds himself grappling with the growing influence of NIL deals in shaping recruits’ decisions.
The Influence of NIL on Recruiting
The NIL era, which officially began in 2021, has fundamentally altered the way college football programs recruit athletes. In the past, athletes were primarily lured to schools based on the promise of exposure, development, and the potential to make it to the professional level. Now, recruits can sign endorsement deals while still in college, a development that has added a financial incentive to the recruitment process.
NIL deals, which allow athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, have raised concerns about creating an uneven playing field, especially for schools without the same financial resources as college football’s elite programs. Alabama, Texas, USC, and a handful of other top-tier programs have deep pockets and are able to leverage NIL to attract recruits. However, schools with smaller budgets may struggle to compete in this new environment, where financial compensation is playing an increasingly larger role in the recruiting process.
For Saban, who has built his legacy on the values of discipline, work ethic, and team-first mentality, the rise of NIL has complicated the recruitment of top talent. His comments about Underwood and Lewis suggest a growing frustration with how the financial side of college football is reshaping the sport. While Saban has always been known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to recruit the best players, the notion that recruits are now making decisions based on monetary deals is a bitter pill to swallow.
Saban’s Concerns: Is the System Compromising the Game?
One of Saban’s primary concerns with the evolving recruiting system is that it might be undermining the traditional values of college football. In his view, recruits should be motivated by the opportunity to play for the best programs, develop their skills, and eventually make it to the NFL — not by the amount of money they can secure through endorsement deals before they’ve even stepped foot on campus.
“I’m not saying that players shouldn’t be able to profit off their name, image, and likeness. That’s not what this is about,” Saban clarified in a press conference following the release of his comments. “But what we’re seeing now is that the money is becoming the most important factor in recruitment. That’s not how this game should be played. This should be about developing young athletes into great football players, teaching them life lessons, and giving them an opportunity to succeed at the highest level. When money becomes the driving force, it complicates everything.”
Saban’s critique is rooted in his understanding of what college football used to be about: the development of young men, the creation of football programs that emphasize team over individual success, and the pursuit of championships as a collective goal. He is concerned that the NIL revolution might be eroding those values, especially when it comes to the recruiting process. Coaches like Saban, who have built their careers around developing players on the field, may find themselves at odds with a system that encourages recruits to weigh financial opportunities above all else.
The Impact on Alabama and Other Elite Programs
Saban’s comments also highlight a broader concern for schools like Alabama, which have long been the standard-bearers in college football. With the increasing reliance on NIL deals, elite programs are in a race not just to recruit the best athletes, but also to secure the financial resources necessary to compete with other big-name schools.
For Alabama, this means that they must adapt to a recruiting landscape where financial power plays a larger role than ever before. Despite Alabama’s own deep pockets and the significant resources it can offer recruits, the rise of NIL deals presents a new set of challenges. Schools with smaller budgets may find it increasingly difficult to compete for top-tier talent, even if they have the most successful football programs.
Additionally, the question of whether NIL deals are fostering a truly level playing field remains unresolved. Saban has long been an advocate for fairness in the recruiting process, and while he acknowledges that NIL can offer legitimate opportunities for athletes, he is concerned that the money aspect is distorting the fundamental purpose of recruiting in college football.
What Can Be Done?
While Saban’s concerns about the current state of college football recruiting are valid, the question remains: what can be done to address these challenges? One potential solution that has been discussed in the college football world is the introduction of more regulation around NIL deals. This could involve creating a more standardized approach to NIL contracts, ensuring that deals are transparent and that there is less room for influence from outside parties who may offer recruits excessive amounts of money to sway their decisions.
Another potential avenue for addressing the growing power of NIL deals is to focus on creating a more equitable system across the entire college football landscape. This might involve ensuring that smaller programs have access to the same financial resources as the elite schools, enabling them to compete more fairly in the recruitment of top-tier talent.
However, these solutions are far from simple, and the future of college football recruiting remains in flux. As Saban and other coaches like him continue to grapple with the new realities of the NIL era, one thing is clear: the recruiting system is in need of significant reform. Whether that reform will come through regulation, oversight, or a change in how programs approach recruitment remains to be seen.
