Former Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel supports NIL, but says recruiting impact 'seems dicey'

Danny Wuerffel, former Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback at Florida, supports players capitalizing on the new Name-Image-Likeness allowances.

But acknowledges the obvious potential downside. 

“It certainly would’ve been nice,” Wuerffel says when considering how he would’ve benefited during his mid-’90s Gator career. “But I also wonder how that would’ve impacted me as a human being, how it would’ve impacted me as a teammate. You just don’t know what downsides might come along with making a little extra money at that point.”

Did someone mention downsides? There appears to be few downsides for the players, but you don’t need much imagination to consider the potential for a Wild West scenario.

“In general, I’m in favor of people being able to market their name and likeness,” Wuerffel said while promoting a golf event in Sea Island, Georgia. “The part that’s trickier to me, and I don’t know how to handle it, is how it can play a part in recruiting. How is it fair to promise a kid in high school that he’s going to get a certain amount of money from boosters or whatever?

“To me, that seems dicey. I don’t know how that will play out. But I definitely think guys, while they’re playing, it’s fair for them to market their name and image and make some money off of it.”

On conference realignments and “alliances”: “I think it’ll sort itself out. I think, whatever conference you’re in, your alumni still love you. The passion is still high.”

The potential of an expanded playoff: “I remember watching the four-team playoff for the first time, it was so exciting, like an NFL playoff. It’s hard to pick a top four, so I’m in favor of moving to more teams. Whether it’s eight or 12, I don’t have a strong opinion on that, but I do think a bigger field than four would be good.”

Wuerffel’s opinion strengthens when talk turns to the heavily trafficked transfer portal, where relaxed transfer rules have turned the process into a second battleground on the recruiting front. 

“I’m less pleased with the transfer portal,” he says. “The problem with the transfer portal is, it changes so many things in how you can coach and lead a team. In an age where everyone wants to be satisfied right now, the transfer portal is sort of the antithesis of that. A player says, ‘You’re not helping me, I’m leaving.’”