NC State’s 2026 football recruiting cycle has been underwhelming thus far, and these days that inevitably leads one to wonder if the lack of success is related to NIL. Is NC State’s NIL budget a problem?
Answering that question is difficult without being privy to inside information, and it’s become more complicated with the new revenue sharing system going into effect mid-cycle. What hasn’t changed: a primary focus on player retention across the board, as power conference schools are going to continue to prioritize spending to keep their best players. Not a single returning P4 player who made first-team all-conference in 2024 hit the portal. A lot of resources are going there, and teams are doing a good job.
Once schools set aside what they think they’ll need for portal adds—a larger priority at some places than others—it leaves budgeting for high school recruits. There are big deals being signed by high school players, of course, but outside of four- or five-star quarterbacks and linemen, it’s not clear there is a lot of money to be had. And schools are still figuring out how to budget prep recruiting in the revenue sharing era.
Take this remark from five-star WR Cederian Morgan when asked about his NIL discussions with schools:
“I mean, they really can’t tell me for real. Because the new cap, the (revenue) sharing. They can’t give me a specific number because they’re still figuring out stuff and they don’t know,” Morgan said. “December, they’re going to be able to tell me a lot because they’re going to know a lot. But it was just like right now they know a little something about how the money is going to be spent. But they can’t just say how much.”
By December, schools will have a better idea about what they’ll need to spend for retention heading into 2026. Clearly there is a lot of sorting out to do for just about everyone between now and then.
Given the level of uncertainty with all of this, I kind of doubt that NIL has had a dramatic impact on NC State’s prep recruiting this cycle, particularly since State doesn’t compete for the Cederian Morgans of the world.
Are three-star prospects, which make up the bulk of State’s classes each year, even warranting cash offers? Can’t tell. It’s doubtful that the numbers are big for this very large group of prospects, and I can’t imagine that NC State is being priced out at this end of the spectrum, if money is a factor at all.
It’s more likely that State’s problems on the trail have more to do with a lack of obvious ace recruiters on staff. Before you can get to the point of talking about money, you do still have to build relationships and create interest with the kids. Some years that’s more difficult than others.