Deion Sanders believes parents have become wannabe agents, misleading kids on NIL deals

Coach Prime says there are players being forced into life-changing mistakes

Deion Sanders can see how a few recruits are hurting their own brand by listening to bad information. The worst part about the whole ordeal is that parents are overstepping their bounds and not realizing they're causing damage. 

The Colorado Buffaloes coach recently explained how it's a new world in college football recruiting. "Parenting is unbelievable, and now it's bleeding into college football," Sanders said on The Bret Boone Podcast. "Because of the NIL's and all this, parents are becoming the agents, and they want to do the deals. Sometimes, they're giving them the right wisdom, and sometimes they're giving those young men the wrong wisdom on what to do with their lives."

It's different for some players who have yet to discover their market value. Also, there is a small fraction with the ability to demand a huge payday. When some parents are too emotionally invested, or they flat out can't comprehend the bigger picture on why not everything that glitters is gold, it can create deep-seeded friction.

"What the parents don't understand, if it doesn't work out, the kid is going to look at you and blame you for the rest of your life," Sanders said.

Coach Prime has said before that he isn't selling the idea of "Get rich quick" NIL schemes. It's one of the reasons why he and his staff have been some of the best recruiters in the nation. Sanders keeps it real about every situation. He also knows when to pass on overblown proposals presented by a player or their reps.

Shedeur Sanders has never taken a class on campus and missing out, according to Coach Prime

Sanders dove deeper into the NIL conversation about why collectives are different from the original idea of players getting paid directly.

“I love that the kids are getting compensated," Sanders said. "But then you gotta ask the question, are they really getting compensated for their name, image, and likeness? We always hear about NIL, but we don’t ever see NIL." The process has gotten out of control with some type of oversight needed. Sanders knows it's only going to get worse before changes start to happen.

"NIL, I don’t mind, but assembling the bag, I got a problem with that,” Sanders said. “I want these kids to get a cut of whatever the NCAA is doing. I want that to happen. But I want to do it right where we have parameters, and we have guidelines, and we have rules that you must abide by. It’s open season right now. I understand, and some of our young men are benefitting, and I’m happy and thankful. Just give us some better guidelines because right now, it ain’t no stopping what’s going on out there.”

Coach Prime and the Buffs have two weeks before National Signing Day on February 7. They've pulled in the 21st-ranked combined class in 2024, according to 247Sports.