Cade McNamara details the impact of NIL, the portal on Michigan's locker room

College athletics are going through a series of rapid changes, which includes things like NIL and the transfer portal. Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara explained the type of impact these changes are having on the Wolverines’ locker room.

“I mean I feel like the majority of the players are not going to worry about it as much when it doesn’t have an effect on them, and I think that’s really the only way they can approach it,” Cade McNamara said. “At least at the University of Michigan we have not allowed NIL to affect our locker room, we have not allowed the transfer portal to affect us in a negative way.

“If a guy didn’t get an opportunity at another school and we think he can help, like of course. If anything, him being able to play, like Olu (Olusegun Oluwatimi), for example, I mean if Olu wasn’t able to play this season that would be super unfortunate. But fortunately, we have Olu to play this season and we’re all pretty appreciative of that. With everything as far as NIL, as far as the transfer portal, as far as all of these conferences switching up a little bit, I think in a way the only teams I’m worried about are on our schedule,” Cade McNamara finished his explanation.

For players like Cade McNamara, NIL can be a huge benefit to them. They’re finding new opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities with NIL. McNamara emphasized that this wasn’t just for the starters at Michigan. Instead, everyone is able to participate in NIL.

“I think I’m at a place that I can benefit from it, and I’m very appreciative of that,” Cade McNamara said. “I’m really happy that Michigan has done events and things for not just maybe the starters on the team but for all players, as well. I think in my vision, I think that’s the best of NIL. That not just maybe the more popular guys get really all of it, I think when the entire team can benefit from it, that’s a version of NIL that I like.”