5 changes James Franklin must make to turn program around

Penn State Football: 5 Changes James Franklin must make to turn program around

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: James Franklin, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, celebrates with the Big Ten Championship trophy after Penn State beat the Wisconsin Badgers 38-31 at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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Coach James Franklin speaks to the recruits as he enters Beaver Stadium, Saturday, September 29, 2018.Ydr Cc92918 Psurecruits /

Penn States’ aggressiveness with NIL

The game of college football is changing every day with the new Name, Image, & Likeness(NIL) rules.

We know that recruiting is becoming an arms race that relies heavily on NIL deals. If you want an example, look at Texas A&M.

Penn State Football has been relatively quiet about what is available to their players through NIL. We know that the program has announced a deal with Fanatics. That will allow the players to profit off of their apparel sales.

There is also a collective setup called Happy Valley Talent. The organization is a portal that can connect student-athletes to potential businesses.

NIL has turned college football into the wild west. James Franklin can’t directly influence NIL deals. He can make it known indirectly to the administration and alumni how important it is.

James Franklin has used contract negotiations to upgrade facilities and improve his staff salaries. There won’t be any negotiations anytime soon after his new contract extension. Franklin will need to prove to boosters and alumni that he is the right guy for this program and get their financial support.

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