Ex-NFL star JJ Watt demands NCAA drop 'charade' around student-athletes

Former NFL prima J.J. Watt called retired the NCAA connected Monday for referring to collegiate athletes arsenic students first.

Watt, successful a station connected X, pointed to the wealth the enactment makes, the advent of name, representation and likeness (NIL), the transportation portal and the cross-country question teams person to make.

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Arizona Cardinals antiaircraft extremity J.J. Watt, #99, reacts aft a nonaccomplishment to the Patriots astatine State Farm Stadium successful Glendale, Arizona, connected Dec. 12, 2022. (Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)

"At immoderate constituent the NCAA needs to driblet the ‘student first, jock second’ charade," the erstwhile Wisconsin Badgers prima wrote. "Billions of dollars, NIL, transportation portal (free agency), traveling cross-country for midweek games…

"Education is not the main focus. Admit it and telephone it what it is. A business. Run it arsenic such."

When 1 X idiosyncratic noticed that Watt’s constituent seemed to lone notation to the champion players successful the champion programs, Watt agreed.

"That’s precisely my point," Watt added. "We’ve got kids who aren’t ‘making money’ and volition ne'er spell pro, yet they are traveling crossed the state midweek for ‘conference games,’ transferring schools, sacrificing studies for sport, etc. None of this is astir what’s doing champion for the student."

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Arizona Cardinals antiaircraft lineman J.J. Watt, #99, comes onto the tract anterior to a crippled against the Patriots astatine State Farm Stadium successful Glendale, Arizona, connected Dec. 12, 2022. (Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Many assemblage coaches successful the NCAA ranks person echoed Watt's point.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide shot manager Nick Saban ripped the attraction of NIL successful assemblage sports successful February 2024.

"What we person present is not assemblage shot -- not assemblage shot arsenic we cognize it. You perceive idiosyncratic usage the connection 'student-athlete.' That doesn't exist," Saban said successful an interrogation with ESPN.

He added that collectives successful assemblage sports had "nothing to bash with name, representation and likeness."

ESPN expert Nick Saban earlier the crippled betwixt the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions successful the Orange Bowl astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful MIami connected Jan. 9, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

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"Just similar an NFL subordinate has a declaration oregon a manager has a contract, thing successful place, truthful you don't person each this raiding of rosters and wide movement," helium said. "I wonderment what fans are going to accidental erstwhile they don't adjacent cognize the squad from twelvemonth to twelvemonth due to the fact that there's nary improvement of teams, conscionable bringing successful caller players each year."

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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