When it comes to NIL conversations, you can always expect to see mentions of Miami. Mario Cristobal currently hosts the second-highest NIL deal in CFB, courtesy of Carson Beck. The staff shelled out $4 million to get him on board, so it wouldn’t surprise the community if they pushed similarly for another player. However, when it comes to another player also asking for a seven-figure paycheck, Cristobal is surprisingly giving up on the pursuit.
The Miami HC was keen to recruit safety AJ Haulcy in the transfer portal. He has produced 257 tackles at the Houston Cougars and 87 before that in his freshman season with New Mexico. 247Sports rates him as a 3-star transfer prospect but was notably in the news for his high NIL demand. During his stint with the Cougars, Haulcy was one of the emerging defensive stars of CFB. In 2024, he was also included in the First Team All Big-12 honors. However, Cristobal is backing out from the race, giving the only other competitor, Brian Kelly, free rein to seal the deal.
Alex Donno of Locked On Canes explained why Cristobal and Co. were not eager to pay that huge sum for Haulcy. “Miami is not going to offer $2 million for a safety unless somebody cloned Sean Taylor. That’s the only way that would happen,” the host noted. LSU is also not going to meet the demand, Donno said.
“[Neither] of them are in the $2 million range, okay? And both Miami and LSU have reportedly said they’re not going any higher for those offers, but of course, the agent is still trying to get $2 million,” he added. And we know that it usually doesn’t end well for a player whose team insists on an unreasonably high number.
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“I view that as an aggressive negotiating ploy to try and really spur a bidding war between Miami and LSU,” Donno said. Only if a player is that good would it be understandable for Cristobal to be in the race. A seven-figure paycheck for a quarterback is understandable. But even then, it isn’t met entirely with acceptance. Nico Iamaleava’s demand and representation are a testament to that. “[Maybe] they figure by setting an astronomical price, they can cause the schools to at least go up and meet them in the middle,” Donno figured.
But the bottom line remains that Mario Cristobal is no longer interested in dishing out all of that money for a safety. NIL deals are under extremely close scrutiny, and head coaches have to plan their moves cleverly to avoid controversy. With another intel from Donno, it becomes clear why Cristobal saw no point in exhausting his efforts for Haulcy.
Crystal Ball predictions coming in for AJ Haulcy
“I believe – and I hope I’m wrong – but I believe that AJ Haulcy really wants to play in the SEC. So, if the money is close, it’s my opinion he’s going to end up being an LSU Tiger,” Donno claimed. And based on recent developments, it sure looks like that. 247Sports’ Crystal Ball predicts Haulcy going to LSU, full and final. He will also visit Brian Kelly over the upcoming weekend. If Haulcy ends up committing to LSU, it will end up cementing its No. 1 rank in the transfer portal class for this year.
Haulcy visited Miami recently but left without a deal in place. That is what solidified the race for Kelly. As per reports, Kelly is not offering him $2 million. Instead, reports suggest that his NIL deal is just under $1 million, making him among the very few non-quarterbacks who have such a huge paycheck. The only such player to have a seven-figure NIL deal is OSU’s Jeremiah Smith. Haulcy is no Jeremiah Smith, so it is understandable why his paycheck still sits at 6 figures.
NILs and recruitment have become the most talked-about aspects of football lately. They do not paint either party – coach and prospect – in a good light. Mario Cristobal suffered from it when he got Carson Beck over. But he still had it easy because Beck somewhat justified the amount promised to him. Will Brian Kelly be able to escape that glare when Haulcy commits when he already has Garrett Nussmeier at $3.6 million? We won’t have to wait too long to find out.
The post Mario Cristobal Bows Out of Bidding War With Brian Kelly’s LSU as Miami Reportedly Rejects Top Target’s $2M Demand appeared first on EssentiallySports.