PJ Fleck warns Gophers will lose players without more NIL money

"So, if want to keep players. All these guys we have, they won't be here next year."

P.J. Fleck has issued a warning that the Golden Gophers football team will become a "Triple-A ballclub" if players don't receive more NIL money at the University of Minnesota. 

In perhaps his boldest comments about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) since taking over the Gophers football program, Fleck said players could leave for greener pastures if more NIL doesn't starting flowing into the program. Fleck's bold statement came after praising true freshman running back Darius Taylor, who is third in the nation with 532 rushing yards, leads the nation in yards per game and has won three straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards. 

"We had players that were here that are now gone, playing at another school that should be here playing right now. Because again, NIL. We didn't pay them. We didn't pay them enough," Fleck said Wednesday on his weekly radio show. 

"That is the fact of life. And I know that we all laugh at it but that is a fact. So if we want to keep players, all these guys we have, they won't be here next year. Just making sure everybody understands. Our fans, [the good players] won't be here. We'll be a Triple-A ballclub for somebody else. That is the reality and the truth of the situation."

The warning comes in light of a string of running backs to leave the program over the last several seasons. Bucky Irving and Ky Thomas both had outstanding freshmen seasons in 2021 but left for Oregon and Kansas, respectively. Trey Potts left after the 2022 season to join Penn State. It's unclear if NIL money was a factor in their decisions to transfer.

Name, image, likeness money paid to Gophers players goes through Dinkytown Athletes, a collective that allows players to take advantage of business opportunities linked to their identity. 

It's unclear who the top NIL earner on the Gophers is. According to On3, which tracks NIL deals for college athletics, the highest-paid college football player is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders based on deals with the likes of Beats by Dre, Urban Outfitters, Mercedes-Benz, Gatorade and others. 

Listen to the full conversation below starting at the 28:35 mark.