(2025) Decidedly Undecided QB - Julian Lewis

[lillurk 3,738]

49 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

IU still has Jackson and Cherry on the roster already getting familiar with the system and being developed by the coaching staff. Plus, they seem to have an eye for talent so the portal is always an option as well if Lewis decides to go to Colorado (definitely possible) or stay with USC (looking more and more unlikely).

Mendoza too

[Banksyrules 4,525]

2 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

My inside source (FWIW) told me that Lewis is looking for $2.5 million in NIL....and that the thought among staff is that it makes more sense to either stay within the program or go the Rourke-type route than commit that kind of money to a freshman.

If we get to the playoff it won’t be a pass. Again unreal money.

[RaceToTheTop 24,940]

1 hour ago, Demo said:

I think that would probably be a pass, but at least in football you know you’re getting the player for 3 years and can use a kid like that to build your program.

But you don't get the player for three years.  No guarantee of that.  You get him for one and if he wants to move on, he does.  Quinn Ewers had an NIL deal for Ohio State for $1.4 million.   Took only two snaps in 2021 and redshirted.  Transferred to Texas and have been there three years.  Just like Lewis, he was the second overall rated quarterback in his class.  But freshman starting in college are rare, especially ones that are meant to lead good programs.

So if you are going to pay that kind of NIL money, you are forced into starting him right away even if he's not clearly the best option.

[steubenhoosier 789]

Show Matthew Sluka film of every Kurtis Rourke game as a Hoosier and pitch him that Cig and staff can do the same for him.

Give him a decent check, but convince him that some $$ will be used to surround him with high end talent 

[Hoosierfan2017 20,876]

The hype from signing the #2 player in the country may be worth $2.5 million, but I can’t blame the staff for being hesitant o fork that kind of cash over to a 17 year old reclass. 

[Josh 12,557]

It's weird to me when I see people say "we" shouldn't spend that money.  Or our staff shouldn't.

It's not their money, it's not our money, and there's no salary cap.  If a donor decides they want to do it then they do.  It takes no money away from anybody else.  

[MemphisHoosier 2,048]

I'm sure it isn't publicly available, but it makes you inquire to CCC's '25 NIL for the full squad.  The Lewis decision at $2.5MM is very different if that pot is $50MM vs. $10MM.

[WayneFleekHoosier 47,943]

The hype from signing the #2 player in the country may be worth $2.5 million, but I can’t blame the staff for being hesitant o fork that kind of cash over to a 17 year old reclass. 

The other question is, it’s not likely 2.5 per year. It’s probably a 2 year deal or something similar. Michigan was talking 4-5 million for a top rated QB but I believe it’s a 3 year deal or something like that. Who knows how that works.


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[Hovadipo 55,096]

2 hours ago, steubenhoosier said:

Show Matthew Sluka film of every Kurtis Rourke game as a Hoosier and pitch him that Cig and staff can do the same for him.

Give him a decent check, but convince him that some $$ will be used to surround him with high end talent 

We can do worlds better than Sluka. He is nothing like Rourke. At all. 

[Hoosierfan2017 20,876]

2 hours ago, Josh said:

It's weird to me when I see people say "we" shouldn't spend that money.  Or our staff shouldn't.

It's not their money, it's not our money, and there's no salary cap.  If a donor decides they want to do it then they do.  It takes no money away from anybody else.  

If a donor donates money only for a certain player then sure. But while there’s no salary cap, there also isn’t a limitless pool of money. It’s more likely, imo, that donors give a certain amount toward NIL than it is donors give an amount for a certain player. The staff then has to decide how to allocate those funds. 

[Hoosier Roots 741]

9 hours ago, Josh said:

It's weird to me when I see people say "we" shouldn't spend that money.  Or our staff shouldn't.

It's not their money, it's not our money, and there's no salary cap.  If a donor decides they want to do it then they do.  It takes no money away from anybody else.  

I agree, but I imagine there is likely some cap to what we can realistically scrape up to spend. 
 

if we’re going to spend 2 mil a year on something  I’d rather give it to cig to stick around than a freshman quarterback who might just transfer after a year anyway. 

[ap2345 7,571]

12 hours ago, steubenhoosier said:

Show Matthew Sluka film of every Kurtis Rourke game as a Hoosier and pitch him that Cig and staff can do the same for him.

Give him a decent check, but convince him that some $$ will be used to surround him with high end talent 

How about no on that one. 

[Lebowski 2,440]

Rumors y'all. He's got a target on IUFB for other reasons than money. Although, I'm sure it helps make his decision. It really doesn't matter who wants how much etc. etc. in the grand scheme of things because IUFB has a seat at the big boy table now because of NIL. And the big boys effin hate it. If he comes to B-town he comes to B-town. If he stays with SC he stays with SC. If he ends up in Boulder he ends up in Boulder. Regardless, I have full faith in the coaching staff that they are preparing the current team to play a road game this weekend in Lansing. And I'm 100% positive Lewis is paying attention. 

[Stuhoo 79,708]

41 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Rumors y'all. He's got a target on IUFB for other reasons than money. Although, I'm sure it helps make his decision. It really doesn't matter who wants how much etc. etc. in the grand scheme of things because IUFB has a seat at the big boy table now because of NIL. And the big boys effin hate it. If he comes to B-town he comes to B-town. If he stays with SC he stays with SC. If he ends up in Boulder he ends up in Boulder. Regardless, I have full faith in the coaching staff that they are preparing the current team to play a road game this weekend in Lansing. And I'm 100% positive Lewis is paying attention. 

NIL money for a five star recruit is available at many, many places.

Lewis clearly considers IU as a place that he feels the staff will develop him among the many places that would be willing to pay market price.

So, if he's a $2 million signee, among the 30 schools with enough cash to pay that? He likes IU, Colorado, and USC.

And by the way, in this environment when a recruit asks for market price it is no indication that they won't "buy in" to the program and its culture. Think professional model: a guy like Stephen Curry, Ohtani, or LeBron has insured that they get paid incredibly well and still they buy in and help establish great culture wherever they land. And they attract other excellent players that want to play with them.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 8,893]

13 hours ago, steubenhoosier said:

Show Matthew Sluka film of every Kurtis Rourke game as a Hoosier and pitch him that Cig and staff can do the same for him.

Give him a decent check, but convince him that some $$ will be used to surround him with high end talent 

hellllllll no. He's a quitter. 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 8,893]

No shot I'm spending 2.5 million on reclassed QB. Nope. 

[Hurryin' Hoosiers 1,952]

11 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

No shot I'm spending 2.5 million on reclassed QB. Nope. 

Even if that 2.5 million was a contract for multiple years and other big time recruits would be swayed by a 5 star QB commitment?

[Stuhoo 79,708]

13 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

No shot I'm spending 2.5 million on reclassed QB. Nope. 

Now that is a valid point also. 

There's an opportunity cost to spending that much on one very young, very talented player. Lots of factors matter, including which other players might follow him, what the budget is, and what other options are available at a lower price, allowing us to bring in multiple excellent players. For instance, Rourke brought Miles Cross, and at a price that allowed for many more portal gets.

Given our implicit trust in a staff like Cignetti's or Teri Moren's, I'm more than certain that our staff is weighing these factors. And given Cig's constant mantra of seeking proven performance over potential, I would not be the least bit surprised if we end up spending our NIL budget elsewhere.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 8,893]

23 minutes ago, Hurryin' Hoosiers said:

Even if that 2.5 million was a contract for multiple years and other big time recruits would be swayed by a 5 star QB commitment?

NIL isn't a contract, so no. 

[Banksyrules 4,525]

31 minutes ago, Certified Sunshine Pumper said:

No shot I'm spending 2.5 million on reclassed QB. Nope. 

You would not just be doing it for the player. You would also be sending a flare to the rest of high school football that you mean business. At the very least show that whatever offer you give players that the money is guaranteed.  Now if this were a college basketball recruit I’d be against it.  If we make the playoffs we’ll make WAY MORE money than if we make it to the final four in college basketball . So much more that giving him that money shouldn’t be a hindrance.