Clemson Coach: ‘We are not an anti-NIL University’

CLEMSON — Nick Eason is not having any of it.

Clemson’s defensive tackles coach says the rhetoric that the Tigers cannot sign certain players is due to NIL is not accurate.

“We are not losing people. We are going to get who we are going to get,” he said. “There are people that are looking for substance. They are looking for that wholesome approach. If they are, then they will end up being here.”

The word is Clemson has lost a little bit of its touch in the recruiting world, and NIL might be a reason why that’s the case. Some of it, according to Eason, might be because there are people putting out false narratives about Clemson, especially head coach Dabo Swinney when comes to his feelings on NIL.

“There are a lot great athletes and a lot of talent in the country that we can recruit and build relationships with that want to be here,” Eason said. “We are not an anti-NIL university. We have NIL here, but we still have to promote graduation, being prepared for the tools that help for life, having a great college experience.

“Those things are still going to be the foundation of our program. We are not going to let NIL be the number one thing and the reason you want to come to Clemson.”

Eason says he is a fan of NIL and how it can help the players in a number of ways, including financial assistance.

“NIL has really helped a lot of people and I am all for it,” he said. “My biggest take on NIL and for our players, I want them to take advantage of what is present for them to have, which is really just having financial responsibility with the money they have.

“A lot of people agree with me about that. Hey, it is fine. We can pay the players, but let’s make sure we are equipping them with financial responsibility and teaching them how to manage their money. We are paying 17, 18 and 19-year-olds a lot of money. I think that is really important.”

As for coming to Clemson, Eason wants recruits to come to Clemson because Clemson is the place for them. Though NIL is important, he hopes athletes are getting the advisement they need, and they are not choosing a school based simply on their NIL opportunities.

“I want you to choose Clemson because you love our facility. You love PAW journey. You love our game-day experience. You love our fans,” Eason said. “You love the fact you can have a life long relationship with people for the rest of your life and then yes, you will have an opportunity to take advantage of the NIL space.

“We do have NIL, but that is not something we promote. It is not going to be the number one thing to get players to come here. We really believe in relationships. That is how Coach Swinney built this culture. It’s built by forming relationships.”