Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Terrion Arnold. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Can NIL money compete with NFL? Alabama may soon find out

By Cameron Kiszla | Last updated 1/3/24

After the Alabama Crimson Tide's season ended in a loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, the focus naturally turned to who will be back for the 2024 campaign.

At a school like Alabama, that often means looking at talented juniors who have a chance to leave early for the NFL Draft but could decide to come back to Tuscaloosa for another season.

For head coach Nick Saban, that process has involved trying to dissuade juniors who are projected beyond the first or second round to return for their senior year. Often, that's involved convincing the players that their higher draft position next season could be worth millions. What if returning to school was worth millions?

That seems to be a possibility for star cornerback Terrion Arnold, who told the "3 Man Front" radio show that he hasn't yet decided, but he's working to weigh "all the information I've been getting to make the best decision for me."

Arnold said some of that information came from Saban himself, and according to Rivals beat reporter Tony Tsoukalas, it could include a financial figure.

I've heard some rumors of Alabama offering crazy NIL money to Arnold should he decide to stay. I still expect him to leave for the NFL, but you never know in today's college football. https://t.co/VD6cKKmvFK
— Tony Tsoukalas (@Tony_Tsoukalas) January 3, 2024

"Crazy NIL money" is, of course, relative, but seven-figure numbers have already been thrown about in the college football world.

Texas backup QB Arch Manning was reported to earn millions in NIL deals, and although he and his family dispute that figure, On3 still says Manning is worth about $2.8 million annually in NIL valuation.

For comparison, San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy makes about $870,000, about a third of Manning's valuation.

So can a college program really outbid the NFL for a player? If Arnold returns for another year at Alabama, we may see our first instance of a theoretical possibility becoming reality.

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