Pat Narduzzi makes jaw-dropping NIL allegation
Oct 5, 2019; Durham, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi looks on before the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. The Pittsburgh Panthers defeated the Duke Blue Devils 33-30. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Drake Maye has committed to remaining at North Carolina as he prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft, and one rival coach says the star quarterback turned down a shocking sum of money when he made that decision.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke about the Maye situation during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan Tuesday. He said he has knowledge of two schools offering Maye $5 million to leave UNC. Narduzzi said he knew which schools made the offers but would not out them. He called the transfer portal and new NIL rules a “sad, sad deal.”
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi says on @937theFan that he's heard 2 schools offered UNC QB Drake Maye $5 million to transfer. Wont's say who. But he knows who. Wow. Says it's gotten out of control and it's only going to get worse. Quote: "It's a sad, sad deal."
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 20, 2022
Maye never actually entered the transfer portal. There were rumors that he might leave UNC after his stellar 2022 season, but the redshirt freshman said in a tweet earlier this month that he “could never leave this place.”
UNC coach Mack Brown said Monday that Maye turned down millions from other programs to remain with the Tar Heels. He would not specify where the offers came from.
“I can’t say, and don’t ask Drake,” Brown said, via Adam Smith of Inside Carolina. “You know who they are. Just look at all the ones who are getting all the top recruits.”
Even with the new NIL rules, schools still are not allowed to make pay-for-play offers to student athletes. Though, one of the biggest issues with the system has been that there are ways to get around that with the promise of lucrative endorsement deals. Schools are also prohibited from contacting players until they enter the transfer portal.
Maye has thrown for 4,115 yards, 35 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season. We have heard of star quarterbacks making huge sums of money with NIL deals, but a $5 million offer is pretty eye-popping.