June 30th will mark the 2nd anniversary of the NCAA officially adopting a Name, Image, and Likeness policy in college athletics, and while there are still a lot of wrinkles to iron out most athletic departments have done their best to embrace the changes and put policies in place to help their student athletes capitalize on one of the biggest rule changes college sports has ever seen.
As much as NIL collectives and athletic departments are doing, many coaches and programs that have boots on the ground recruiting feel like more can be done.
Amidst some ongoing discussions and dialogue about what kind of athletic department Penn State wants to be in regards to NIL, James Franklin was asked about the possible ramifications about falling behind with NIL, and made his feelings clear about the topic with reporters yesterday.
"I don't think it really should be a discussion. I don't think it really can be a discussion...because when you're Penn State, and you're in the Big Ten, the reality is if you choose that you want to compete at the very highest level, you guys have heard me say this before, you can't pick and choose what you're going to compete in."
Franklin goes on to remind media that ten years ago, when he was hired, the discussions among Penn State fans and the athletic department was very similar when he brought up upgrades needed for the facilities. People thought he was crazy at the time, he shared.
"The reality is, the people that were aggressive on the front end with facilities, obviously they're able to shift their focus to the new challenge. So, the reality is, as you guys have heard me say before, whether it is facility, or staff size, or alignment or NIL, if you truly want to compete at the highest level then you can't say, "We're going to be competitive in these three areas, and not in this one."
"Where we are, as a top 10 program, those areas that you are behind become glaringly obvious issues to people that really understand and study college football and college athletics."
Franklin goes on to share how impressed he has been, and how they have made significant ground up" with their recent facility and weight room improvements and how those have made an impact in recruiting and developing their players.
Franklin says he felt like they started a few years behind in regards to NIL, and that they've made significant progress over the past year, but adds "we've got to keep the pedal to the floor."
Hear Franklin's full comments in the clip.