Ex-NFL QB, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer offers advice to elite high school recruits

Highly sought-after recruits — in every sport, but particularly in football and basketball — have seen their worlds change right before their eyes with name, image and likeness (NIL) changes. Not only can they profit off their brand at the college level, but some can do so even in high school now.

It provides an extra layer of complication for teenagers already trying to balance school, sports and everything else. During On3’s Lever Up podcast on Thursday, ex-NFL quarterback and current Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.) head coach Trent Dilfer spoke on a variety of topics surrounding recruiting and NIL. But his biggest piece of advice to highly recruited athletes was two-fold: slowing down and assessing who you’re surrounding yourself with.

“I’ve seen too often, you’re so quick to jump into boom, boom, boom, boom boom. And if I don’t do it now, I’m going to miss out,” Dilfer said of NIL opportunities. “You’re not going to miss out on anything. So let it breathe. Ask good questions.”

His second piece of advice centered on making sure the people coaching, training and educating are in it for the betterment of the athlete and not themselves.

“More importantly than any of the other stuff, are you surrounding yourself with people who are getting something from you or doing something for you?” Dilfer added. “I think just ask yourself that question. … That comes with a coach, too. I’m not going to take a shot at coaches, but we’ve had an influx of ambition-driven coaches. That coach is using you for his ambition instead of a coach that is giving to you, pouring into you, and you both win. If he wants a better job, he’ll get a better job because you’re a better person, a better human, a football player and making more money in NIL.

… It all mixes together, and athletes have got to start asking that question. If you get that answer, you’ll usually go down the right road.”