Jerry Jones has had a ton of questions thrown his way regarding the future of the Dallas Cowboys — specifically when it comes to paying his three core stars — yet as of now there aren’t any negotiations in place with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons.
While the NFL has a salary cap which makes these situations far more difficult than they seem, the world of college sports is the Wild West when it comes to NIL and Jones is reportedly prepared to help his Alma mater in a major way financially.
Recently there was a day where college basketball eclipses football for the attention of American sports fans, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is playing a big part in the college hoops world.
Jones’ alma mater, Arkansas, has hired coach John Calipari away from Kentucky, and Jones’ status as a booster has been cited as one of the reason that Calipari walked away from a college basketball blue blood to coach the Razorbacks.
Jones played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks and remains involved as a donor, and in the new world of college sports where so much success hinges on convincing players that wealthy donors will hook them up with lucrative NIL deals, a booster like Jones is attractive to players and coaches alike.
Broncos co-owner Rob Walton is also an Arkansas graduate, and he too has been named as an Arkansas booster whose presence makes Arkansas attractive to Calipari. Walton and his family, the owners of Wal-Mart, have deep ties to the state and the university.
Jones hasn’t spent a lot of money on free agents for the Cowboys this offseason, but his ability to spend money may have played a role in one of the biggest stories of the year in another sport.
Calipari’s contract is for five year and starts at $7 million per season, per Arkansas and features a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances that would extend him through 2031. Incentives include a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 retention bonuses annually, and additional bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament and advancing through each round.
“As I visited with Coach Calipari during this process, he acknowledged the tremendous opportunity we have at the University of Arkansas to attract and retain top players and compete for championships,” Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement.
“He understands the deep passion of the Razorback Nation and has experienced the tremendous home court advantage of Bud Walton Arena. I have no doubt that under Coach Calipari’s leadership and with the collective support of all those who love the Hogs, Razorback Basketball will continue to maintain its national prominence within college basketball.”
Incentives include a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 retention bonuses annually, and additional bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament and advancing through each round.
Jerry Jones Will Double NIL Money Offered To Kentucky Basketball Recruits To Join Arkansas Razorbacks According To Report
While going from Kentucky to Arkansas is a step down in terms of prestige, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that NIL “cannot be overlooked in Calipari’s decision-making.”
“Having dollars to spend in the transfer portal and recruiting won’t be a problem in Fayetteville,” Nakos wrote. “A source told On3 on Sunday night that Calipari will have ‘at least’ $5 million annually in NIL funds to disperse. The same source estimated the budget will be in the $6 million ballpark.”
When the Calipari to Arkansas deal was coming together, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf noted Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Walton family, which earned its wealth through Walmart, could also be notable boosters to Arkansas’ NIL fund.
Jerry Jones is reportedly offering DOUBLE whatever the Kentucky commits were making to come to Arkansas, per @trillydonovan
Jerry Jones is an Arkansas booster, and reportedly helped them hire John Calipari last week. pic.twitter.com/McgxAF77X1
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) April 18, 2024
Now, a new report on Wednesday night states Jones is willing to double the NIL money Kentucky is offering its top recruits if they opt to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks instead,
Per @trillydonovan’s Discord: Jerry Jones (Arkansas booster) is willing to pay freshmen twice as much as they would get at Kentucky.
What a wild era of college basketball.
— Eli Hershkovich (@EliHershkovich) April 18, 2024
