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NO: Tennessee Volunteers Athletic Director Breaks Silence on NIL Buyouts Fueling Player Transfers
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a bold and candid press conference held Monday morning, Tennessee Volunteers Athletic Director Danny White addressed mounting concerns surrounding the role of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) buyouts in college athletics. Amid growing speculation that the NIL era is increasingly fueling player transfers across the NCAA, White broke his silence to provide clarity on the university’s stance and its efforts to strike a balance between competitive excellence and ethical responsibility.
The transfer portal is more active than ever, and many fans and analysts have pointed fingers at NIL deals — particularly lucrative buyouts — for creating an unregulated arms race in college sports. Tennessee has seen its fair share of player exits and arrivals through the portal, prompting public outcry and skepticism about the integrity of the system. White’s message to the college football world was unequivocal: “We’re not in the business of bidding wars.”
Since the NCAA lifted restrictions on NIL earnings in 2021, student-athletes have gained unprecedented access to income through endorsements, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and social media partnerships. But with opportunity has come chaos. The initial intent — to empower student-athletes to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness — has devolved in many cases into what critics describe as legalized pay-for-play.
At the center of this criticism is the use of NIL buyouts — deals where collectives or boosters offer players financial incentives contingent on transferring schools. For Tennessee, a program on the rise in both football and basketball, the implications have been complex.
“This is not what NIL was designed for,” White said firmly. “When we agreed to support NIL initiatives for our student-athletes, it was about empowering them, not manipulating the transfer process. We want to build programs, not rosters.”
White acknowledged that Tennessee is active in the NIL space — after all, the Vols are competing at the highest level in the SEC, a conference where top-tier athletes are constantly being courted. However, he drew a hard line when it comes to the practice of buying out players from other programs.
“We’ve had players approached by collectives elsewhere with outrageous offers — some in the seven-figure range,” White revealed. “We’ve also had to compete to retain our own players. But we will not participate in any system that weaponizes NIL to poach athletes mid-career.”
Tennessee’s collective, the Volunteer Club, has been one of the more visible operations nationally, facilitating deals for top athletes across multiple sports. However, White emphasized that the school’s relationship with the collective is centered on transparency, sustainability, and NCAA compliance.
“We’re working with our partners to ensure that NIL is a long-term benefit for our athletes, not just a quick money grab that leaves them burned out and betrayed,” he said.
Tennessee’s offseason has been marked by significant transfer activity — both incoming and outgoing. Most notably, the departure of starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked Vol Nation and ignited a wave of speculation that NIL incentives were behind his decision.
“I’m not going to get into specifics of any one player,” White said, “but it’s clear that NIL has become a determining factor for many athletes’ choices. It’s our job as administrators to protect the student-athletes and preserve the integrity of college sports.”
On the basketball side, Tennessee has lost and gained marquee players, and the rumors are often the same — that players are following the money rather than the fit or tradition.
“This isn’t just a Tennessee problem,” White added. “It’s a national problem. The NCAA, the conferences, and the schools all need to come together to establish clearer guardrails around NIL and the transfer portal.”
White’s remarks echo growing concerns from other major athletic directors across the country. Many have expressed alarm that NIL buyouts have effectively replaced traditional recruiting models with open-market bidding wars. The SEC, long considered a football powerhouse, is now ground zero for these seismic shifts.
According to sources close to the Tennessee program, multiple SEC schools have lost players due to third-party NIL offers structured as buyouts — essentially paying players to break commitments, exit programs, and move across state lines.
“These backdoor deals are undermining everything we’re trying to build,” White said. “They hurt locker rooms. They erode trust between coaches and
White pointed to the need for a renewed emphasis on development — both athletic and academic — within college programs. He warned that NIL buyouts create a false sense of instant success and financial stability, which can be dangerous for young athletes still finding their identity.
“Young people are being offered a quick check to uproot their lives, abandon teammates, and chase promises that often aren’t fulfilled,” White cautioned. “Meanwhile, they’re giving up continuity, coaching, and sometimes even degrees.”
To address this, Tennessee has invested in expanding player development programs, focusing on life skills, financial literacy, and long-term brand building — not just short-term cash flow.
“We want our student-athletes to graduate with more than just a highlight reel,” White emphasized. “We want them to leave here as leaders, entrepreneurs, and ambassadors.”
White’s comments come as lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are increasingly being urged to introduce federal NIL legislation. With individual states creating different NIL laws — and with the NCAA appearing largely ineffective in enforcing existing guidelines — many believe that a national framework is the only viable solution.
“Federal legislation is going to be essential if we want to restore balance,” White said. “There’s too much at stake for this to remain a free-for-all.”
He also called on the NCAA to step up and clarify its position.
“The NCAA must enforce its own rules. We can’t have a situation where some schools follow the rules and others exploit the loopholes. That’s a race to the bottom.”
Despite the turbulence, White expressed optimism about Tennessee’s future — both on and off the field. He praised head coaches like Josh Heupel and Rick Barnes for maintaining integrity in recruiting and building strong cultures amid the chaos.
“Our coaches aren’t just recruiters — they’re educators, mentors, and program-builders,” he said. “We’re lucky to have leaders who understand that success is about more than just winning games.”
He also praised the fans and donors who have supported Tennessee athletics in the NIL era, helping build a sustainable model that doesn’t rely on last-minute buyouts or desperate deals.
“Tennessee is a place where tradition matters,” White said. “We’re going to continue doing things the right way.”
As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, Tennessee’s athletic department is working with university leadership, collectives, legal advisors, and even other schools to find a better path forward.
“There’s no perfect answer yet, but silence isn’t an option,” White concluded. “That’s why I’m speaking out now. We owe it to our athletes and to the game.”
In the coming months, White says he hopes to join other SEC and Power Five leaders in shaping a more ethical and equitable NIL environment — one that restores balance and reinforces the educational mission of college sports.
“Our job isn’t just to win championships,” he said. “It’s to develop champions in life.”