“You certainly cannot blame the players”: $80M-worth Nick Saban defends QBs Julian Lewis and Bryce Underwood’s recruiting flips

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has made his thoughts clear on the recent commitment flips of five-star QB Julian 'JuJu' Lewis and 2025 class' No. 1 recruit, Bryce Underwood. Lewis has decided to commit to the Colorado Buffaloes while Bryce Underwood is gearing up to begin his college journey with the Michigan Wolverines.

During his appearance on the Pat McAfee show, $80M-worth (as per Celebrity Net Worth) Nick Saban opened up about this situation. He stated that the players cannot be blamed for flipping their commitment in the modern NIL era.

"You certainly cannot blame the players for choosing a school for both reasons that you just said: Somewhere where I can play, and-- if the system allows me to do it, and I'm a free agent, even in high school- why not take advantage of the NIL?"

Nick Saban also stated that both Julian Lewis and Bryce Underwood saw these two goals align with their respective commitments, which is why they decided to make the best decision for their future.

"It is certainly the best model for these guys to take advantage of right now, because it is the rules and you can't blame them for taking advantage of it. I'm specifically saying these two guys did that: where can I play and how can I enhance my future the best in terms of how much people are willing to invest in me?"

Julian Lewis committed to the USC Trojans in August last year. However, their underwhelming performance this season in the Big Ten must have been a factor in his decision to play for the Colorado Buffaloes. The Trojans, on the other hand, have successfully flipped the commitment of five-star QB Husan Longstreet from Texas A&M.

Bryce Underwood made his commitment to the LSU Tigers back in January. Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines have been pursuing him for quite some time and finally managed to flip his commitment. This will also address the ongoing quarterback troubles of the team next season.

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Nick Saban once shared a hot take on NIL opportunities

Before retiring, Nick Saban led the Crimson Tide to six national championships while developing several talented players over the years.

Last year in June, he appeared on the Joel Klatt show, where he talked about the present-day scenario of NIL opportunities and gave a detailed view of his perspective on the same.

"We're giving people scholarships, we're creating NIL opportunities, but what is their commitment? There is no place in the world where you don't have a contract," Saban said. "If you're going to receive benefits, you have a contract and an obligation to do a certain job."

"So, when you can opt out, transfer, do whatever you want, whenever you want, I'm not sure the balance is quite right."

The NIL has led to many changes in the game of college football. As more changes come in the future, individuals have to learn to adapt to continue growing in the sport.