Washington's Fisch Isn't Selling Recruits on NIL Deals

Huskies' new football coach Jedd Fisch speaks on all things NIL, recruiting and the NFL.

University of Washington's new head football coach Jedd Fisch isn't here to recruit student-athletes on anything other than the NFL. He met with the media on Wednesday and explained his new recruiting philosophy as the Huskies transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.

Washington finished 14-1 overall and 9-0 in the Pac-12 last season, earning a spot in the College Football Playoffs. They won't return Kalen DeBoer, Michael Penix, or Rome Odunze next season. DeBoer took the Alabama job while Penix and Odunze will start their NFL careers.

Speaking of NFL careers, Fisch makes it known that his focus is to get his athletes into the NFL. He said that the NFL is more important than NIL, using that as a selling point to recruits. Fisch had the following to say, according to Mike Vorel of the Seattle Times.

“I think NFL’s a lot more important than NIL,” Fisch said. “When you have an opportunity to sell the NFL, you should do it. The difference at some programs is, they want to sell it. We can tell it. We can tell you what it’s actually like. Steve Belichick and [offensive coordinator] Brennan Carroll have lived, breathed and were born into the National Football League."

NIL deals are still a factor and Fisch understands that to win at the level Washington is expected to win at, they need to improve their NIL.

“My hope is that one day we walk down Starbucks field into Costco’s arena, into Microsoft’s area, into the recruiting lounge owned by Ballmer and everything in between. Let’s see if we can find ways to utilize and absolutely dominate the Seattle community.”

NIL will be a big help for the program as they make their transition to the Big Ten.

Will West Coast athletes want to play primarily on the East Coast and central parts of America? Having to play in the snow in State College, Pennsylvania is much different than having to play in Southern California, Arizona, and other places in the fall months. 

Seattle, Washington isn't exactly 75 and sunny, but there are other factors to think about here. NIL can only make Fisch's job easier as he sells the school to recruits.