Alabama Athletic Director Believes NIL is Key Part of Recruiting

Crimson Tide AD Greg Byrne weighs in on the Tennessee, NCAA hearing.

The University of Tennessee and the NCAA had a legal dispute over alleged NIL violations by the university. With all of the moving parts in NIL and this still being new to recruits, coaches, athletic directors, and universities, it's unsurprising that there are legal disputes over these issues.

Greg Byrne, the University of Alabama athletic director, understands that NIL is a part of recruiting. He had the following to say at the Birmingham Tip Off Club, according to Michael Brauner of Yellow Hammer News.

“Making sure we are following the rules and the process and at the same time too, not exactly knowing where all the rules are necessarily. NIL is a part of recruiting, it is."

NIL will continue to be a part of recruiting and if anything, will only be more involved in the future. Athletes are rightfully looking to be compensated for their services and that won't change unless the NCAA decides to do something to NIL deals.

With big universities like Tennessee and Alabama, NIL deals are necessities. These are two of the best athletic programs in the country and landing the top athletes can get costly depending on the sport.

While some have disagreed with the way that NIL deals have emerged, it doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. Student-athletes are a fan of it and that's all that should matter.

There will need to be new rules and fixes as this grows. NIL will have changes, but the simple concept of athletes getting compensated shouldn't change as they deserve to make money considering how much they bring the universities.