LSU coaches and players react to passing of California bill allowing college athletes to make money off their likeness

One of the biggest news events to come out of Monday was the state of California's decision to pass a bill that would allow amateur athletes in the state to be compensated based off their likeness.

The bill, which is set to take place starting in 2023, has been brought to national attention by star athletes like Lebron James and Draymond Green. On a recent episode of James' HBO show "The Shop," California governor Gavin Newsom officially signed the bill, though it wasn't officially filed until Monday.

I’m so incredibly proud to share this moment with all of you. @gavinnewsom came to The Shop to do something that will change the lives for countless athletes who deserve it! @uninterrupted hosted the formal signing for SB 206 allowing college athletes to responsibly get paid. pic.twitter.com/NZQGg6PY9d
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 30, 2019

Under the bill, college athletes would be allowed to sign endorsement deals, sign autographs for money and take paid youth coaching positions.

On Tuesday, it was reported by Sports Illustrated that the state of Florida would be proposing a bill that would allow college athletes to be compensated for their name and likeness.

We asked a few LSU players what their response and thoughts were to the proposed bill in California. Senior quarterback Joe Burrow has never been one to shy away from speaking on issues, saying he approves of the new bill but also realizes it'll be tough to see change everywhere despite a positive start by California.

"I think it's good that people are starting to trend the other way," Burrow said. "It takes place in 2023 so I'll be long gone and this freshman class will even be gone but I think we're starting to trend in the right direction as it pertains to that."

Burrow said as a player there is only so much they can do because at the end of the day the main goal in college is to prove you know how to win.

"You don't want to distract anything from that," Burrow said. "Especially during the season but I think that's an important issue that we have that needs to be taken a look at."

The point was made that now that California is the only state to allow this proposed change to allow athletes to make money off their likeness, could recruiting be affected as a result. Burrow said he wasn't sure how that would work but that he doesn't think it would've made a difference to him had the bill been in affect when he was going through recruiting.

"I guess we'll find out over the next five or six years," Burrow said. "I'm interested to see because I don't have an answer for that one."

"I don't think so," Burrow said in reference to his recruiting. "Maybe, maybe not that's a good question. That's one that you'd have to sit down and really think about."

Junior safety Grant Delpit agreed with Burrow, saying the California bill was "fire" while also recognizing he's in Louisiana and that the state likely won't pass a similar bill anytime soon.

"Making endorsements would open up a lot of doors," Delpit said. "I don't even really know where I'd start. You'd probably have to hire an agent and all that. I'm curious to see how that turns out. I'll let them experiment first."

Coach Ed Orgeron, while not a fan of players receiving salaries, believes there are other avenues that can be taken to allow college athletes to live a better lifestyle while in college.

"Just gotta follow the rules, whatever they tell us to do," Orgeron said. "I believe the players should get as much as they possibly can. And am I fan of paying the players, no. But I do -- if there's a system we can get these guys what they deserve without getting salaries, maybe cost of attendance like they are today and a little bit more, I'm all for that. But I think it's got to be governed all in the right way. But that's not for me to decide. My job is to coach football, and whatever they tell me to do, I'm going to do."