There is a potential return for shoe and gear companies to pay a high school football or basketball player big dollars. A lot of merchandise can be sold with a big return on investment. For example, when C J Stroud struck a partnership with footwear and accessories retailer DSW he got a million dollars. Nationwide sales at DSW's 500 stores boomed. The partnership attracted in a new generation consumer to men's footwear. This was a win-win deal for Stroud and DSW.
Other than Joe Galli, Joe De Sena, and Ira Lubert there are few wrestling supporters who will or can spend a large sum of money to attract a high school wrestler. I can't imagine these successful businessmen making investments of this type and do them annually to attract the next group of star high school recruits.
Other than Burroughs, Dake, and Taylor I can't think of a wrestler who could attack "wrestling consumers", much less the general population. These guys are proven champions and achieved success on the college and Olympic level. Dake and Burroughs were not highly sought out as high school wrestlers. If they were graduating from high school now, I doubt that they would get much NIL money. They were developed in college by Rob Koll and Mark Manning.
Are recruits getting some money? Yes. But anything close to $ 800,000? Unlikely. Let's remember that young kids like to talk and brag. I would be interested in learning actual facts as opposed to rumors posted on message boards.
This talk sounds like preparing us Rutgers fans for our recruits going elsewhere. When one doesn't get the prize, it is natural to blame other circumstances and not look inwardly at oneself.
