Lebowski

He most likely got his bank through the passive method. I'm leaning more towards a "licensing revenue" way if that makes sense. This is where he can grant permission to third parties, such as apparel vendors, to use his NIL on clothing and on other merchandise. Compare it to when you buy computer software. You purchase the licensing agreements with the copyright holders of the software. Oscar Tshiebwe was able to bank $20k a month this way in just apparel sales. Regarding the lump sum, just so long as it's deemed a passive engagement he can bank in the US.

It'll be 1v1, that's how he rolls.

OL Josh Witt, TE Anthony Miller Jr., and DL Trey Laing to the portal.

Y'all have no idea what kind of ecstatic I am today. Hopefully, it's the beginning of an IUFB era I've been dreaming for my entire life. No self imposed limitations. -Coach Cig

That's exactly what I would imagine. Both Edey and Painter had been pretty vocal about the limitations he faced with NIL. I do know he partnered with his school's NIL store and released an officially licensed hockey jersey (aka a passive deal). On3 had him valuated at around $810k in November 2023. Ballo hasn't played a single second on the court in B-Town and I'm assuming jersey's haven't even started manufacturing yet. Nor is he the returning POY, like Edey was. I guess what I'm saying is if he's getting the dollar amount that folks are throwing out here, we got bent over backwards on the deal. Even if Ballo turns out to be our jackpot and brings home a banner the valuation of him probably isn't more than $900k. On3 has him currently ranked 5th in valuation (compared to last year Hunter Dickenson was 5th at $844k). With Ballo being a F-1, that dollar amount valuation is probably lower than last year's 5th ranked valuation. Ballo has NIL limitations and I would be very interested to know what kind of passive deal he got. Maybe he signed a licensed deal with Adidas or something. Who knows.

Isn't he in the states on a F-1 visa aka student visa? If that's the case, I am skeptical with the numbers being thrown because he can only earn from passive deals (i.e. Ballo gives EA Sports license to use his NIL) or active deals (things such as posting on social media, appearing at an event, or signing an autograph) outside of the US. What kind of passive deal would he get for the numbers being thrown around?

I'm not privy to GBR, what is that exactly?

Are you talking about Ben Humrichous? I saw him play a few times this past season. Credit to Coach David Ragland and his staff for upping his game because he was definitely a positive for UE. But honestly, I'm not sure he'd fit with IUBB well. It's possible, but I think he might be a liability on the defensive side of the ball. No knock on him, he was fun to watch this year and a breath of fresh air for UE basketball in general. Hope he lands somewhere and continues to get better.

And excellent defense against the 3 ball.

Is he a F1 visa? If he is then he's limited on NIL.

Overall/Conference/Transfer 37/11/18 - 247 46/13/29 - Rivals 51/15/17 - On3 Updated: 2/5/25 Italic indicates the recruit has a 4 star or greater rating by one of the rating systems. High School (23 total) OL Matt Marek - Orland Park, IL (1/31/2024) OL Evan Parker - Carmel, IN (2/5/2024) DB Garrett Reese - LaGrange Park, IL (2/16/2024) WR LeBron Bond - Norfolk, VA (4/7/2024) TE Blake Thiry - Prairie Du Chien, WI (4/16/2024) CB Jaylen Bell - Loganville, GA (6/1/2024) RB Sean Cuono - Clearwater, FL (6/3/2024) DL Jhrevious Hall - Columbia, TN (6/4/24) K Bryce Taylor - Bloomington, IN (6/12/24) LB Jamari Farmer - Mooresville, NC (6/17/24) CB Zacharey Smith - Atlanta, GA (6/20/2024) Edge Keishaun Calhoun - Groveport, OH (6/20/2024) Edge Triston Abram - Saint Louis, MO (6/23/2024) TE Andrew Barker - Kokomo, IN (6/23/2024) WR Davion Chandler - Indianapolis, IN (6/25/2024) DT Kyler Garcia - Nashville, TN (6/26/2024) WR Myles Kendrick - Jacksonville, FL (6/29/2024) CB Seaonta Stewart - Cincinnati, OH (7/8/2024) OL Baylor Wilkins - Findley, OH (7/9/2024) LB Paul Nelson - Cincinnati, OH (7/9/2024) Edge Tyrone Burrus Jr - Indianapolis, IN ( 11/14/2024) S Byron Baldwin - Baltimore, MD (11/15/2024) LB Amari Kamara - Ashburn, VA (2/5/25) Transfers (20) CB Amariyun Knighten - Fort Lauderdale, FL from NIU (12/15/2024) K Brendan Franke - Gretna, NE from Texas State (12/15/2024) P Mitch McCarthy - Melbourne, VIC Australia from UCF (12/15/2024) DL Hosea Wheeler - Elk Grove, CA from WKU (12/16/2024) RB Lee Beebe Jr. - Montgomery, AL from UAB (12/17/2024) DL Dominique Ratcliff - Conroe, TX from Texas State (12/17/2024) TE Riley Nowakowski - Milwaukee, WI from Wisconsin (12/18/2024) RB Roman Hemby - Bel Air, MD from Maryland (12/23/2024) QB Fernando Mendoza - Miami, FL from California (12/24/2024) WR Makai Jackson - Levittown, PA from App St (12/24/2024) LS Sam Lindsey - Lilburn, GA from Georgia St. (12/26/2024) S Louis Moore - Mesquite, TX from Ole Miss (12/28/2024) OT Zen Michalski - Floyds Knobs, IN from OSU (1/03/2025) QB Grant Wilson - Arlington, VA from Old Dominion (1/03/2025) OT Kahlil Benson - Southaven, MS from Colorado (1/04/2025) WR Tyler Morris - Bolingbrook, IL from Michigan (1/04/2025) DB Ryland Gandy - Buford, GA from Pitt (1/06/2024) TE Holden Staes - Atlanta, GA from Tennessee (1/09/2024) S Devan Boykin - Jamestown, NC from NC State (1/14/2024) OL Pat Coogan - Chicago, IL from Notre Dame (1/31/2025)

TOP 100 TE out of Prairie Du Chien, WI 247 Rivals On3

Top 100 OT out of Macomb, MI (but his Twitter account says he's from Pancake City. lol) 247 On3 https://twitter.com/justinbell0426/status/1779613124921860216

Yeah he's for sure small. Probably the reason why he was at Austin Peay to begin with. They need depth at that position and adding one of the topped ranked FCS corners will definitely add competition during practice. He's just the type of guy Coach Cig wants, someone that has something to prove with a chip on his shoulder. Who knows if he'll ever step foot on the gridiron on Saturdays. Best of luck to him and I hope he beats the odds. I will say he did get a pick and PD against Bama in 2022 and a FF, 4 solos, 2 ast and 1 PD against the Vols last year. So he's no stranger to size. He also sees size at the FCS level as well.

FCS All-American CB Cedarius Doss will be on the roster for the 2024 season. https://twitter.com/DadaDoss1/status/1779550430453731826

Committed today.

Top 100 LB out of Cincinnati, OH 247 Rivals On3

I don't know who Brad Crawford is but he's got IUFB on this list. And if this is even remotely true, it tells me Indiana is finally ready to get serious about its football program. For us that have been paying attention, we already knew Coach Cig wouldn't have taken the job if he didn't have the resources and backing of the university from top to bottom. But to be on this type of list where resources seem to be a larger bucket has me wonder how accurate it is. On the other hand, it also kind of makes sense if you think about it. Coach Cig has done only one thing throughout his entire head coaching career, win. Google him. Man, I can't wait for the season to start.

"Change the way people think." -Coach Cig

"No self imposed limitations." -Coach Cig

I'm sure he fully expects that to happen. I'm also certain he and his staff will be hitting the portal as well. They need to fill some spots on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Blidi comes to mind.

15 minute interview: Hoosier Hysterics Podcast: Coach Cignetti He mentions a desire to change some NIL rules and understands the importance of football (83% revenue) in the athletic department. It's worth a listen.