All-American Running Back Reportedly Offered ‘Four Times’ More NIL Money To Transfer

NIL became a part of college football in 2021, allowing student-athletes to be paid for their image and likeness and to participate in deals and endorsements. Shedeur Sanders ($4.7 million), Livvy Dunne ($3.9 million), Arch Manning ($3.1 million), Travis Hunter ($2.7 million), and Jalen Milroe ($1.7 million) are the top five student-athletes in terms of On3 NIL valuation .

Now that NIL is legal it also affects what school players commit to in recruiting and the transfer portal. At a recent press conference, North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown said a player was offered "four times" more NIL money to leave the program via the transfer portal this offseason.

The player Brown was talking about was running back Omarion Hampton. Brown was discussing how loyal Hampton was and used that as an example.

Hampton would have been a massive loss if he left North Carolina. Hampton had a career-high 1,504 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, which led his team. North Carolina already lost last year's starting quarterback, Drake Maye, wide receiver Tez Walker, and 2023 leading tackler and linebacker Cedric Gray to the NFL draft.

To fill the void at quarterback, North Carolina brought in former Texas A&M Aggies QB Max Johnson. Johnson played in eight games for the Aggies last season with six starts. He had 1,452 passing yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions in 2023.

Johnson suffered a rib injury during the Texas A&M loss to the Ole Miss Rebels in 2023, which kept him from playing in the final three regular-season games and the Texas Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Tar Heels have tight end Jacob Copenhaver, TE Bryson Nesbit, wide receiver JJ Jones, and linebacker Power Echols as some of the star talent returning in 2024.

North Carolina opens the season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Aug. 29.

Related: David Pollack Names ‘Perfect Team’ To Join Big Ten In Conference Realignment