The way Arkansas freshman Braylen Russell performed on the final drive of an upset over Tennessee may not have only changed the trajectory of his season, but also his financial future.
The 6-foot-1, 253-pound running back fueled the go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter against the then-No. 4 Volunteers with 35 of his team-high 62 yards. The big blow was a 24-yard rumble. Now, three weeks later, he is on the brink of an increased role.
With starter Ja’Quinden Jackson officially “doubtful” for the Arkansas vs Mississippi State game on Saturday, it sounds like Russell is in line for his first collegiate start.
Of course, in the age of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the brighter spotlight also means the possibility of more money.
Agents Calling Prompts Social Media Post
That drive against Tennessee gave the Arkansas coaches confidence to give him more touches as the injury bug has hit the running back room, but it has also prompted agents to call with promises of NIL deals.
“I had an NFL agent, who was scouting Tennessee, come up to me and give me his information,” Braylen Russell’s father, Bishop, told Best of Arkansas Sports. “He said he deals with NFL players, but is also representing college players with NIL deals.”
The attention from the agents prompted Braylen Russell to take to social media hinting he was changing agents, which caused quite the stir amongst Arkansas football fans:
Currently, Russell’s dad handles his business affairs. It’s a role he will gladly hand off when his son makes that decision.
“His [X post] was about finding the right agent,” Bishop Russell said. “There have been a lot of high-profile agents reaching out to us, and I guess [the post] was just a way to say he is looking for the right agent. I think a lot of people took it out of perspective and say once a kid says that, they are looking for more money or going to another university.”
Bishop Russell said the joke he’s made referring to his ‘handler’ role with family and close friends is ‘I will work for him until he fires me.’
“I have been saying that, and we have laughed about it for a long time,” he said. “I will be doing it until he finds someone else. When somebody contacts him now, he tells them to call his dad.”
Other NIL Lessons for Braylen Russell at Arkansas
As things currently stand, Braylen Russell isn’t going anywhere.
That could change if Sam Pittman is fired, but there aren’t any plans for him to hit the transfer portal right now.
In fact, the Benton High product and his family actually have a great relationship with the Razorbacks’ coaching staff.
It was Pittman’s persistence, even after he decommitted, that prompted Russell to ultimately sign with Arkansas. Running backs coach Kolby Smith, who was hired after Russell was already on campus, has also made an impression.
Not only was Smith apologetic to Russell and his father after he didn’t get any reps against Oklahoma State, but he’s also been a positive influence when it comes to the financial side of things.
It’s easy to see Bishop Russell likes Smith and admired the coach for scolding his son for buying an expensive Louis Vuitton handbag. The conversation occurred while Braylen Russell was talking to his dad on FaceTime and Smith said, ‘How is that bag going to help you on the field or learn the playbook?’
“It was good to hear another role model saying the same things I do because it is one thing to hear it from your father and another thing to hear it from another adult or a coach,” Bishop Russell said. “I want him to have everything he desires, but the point of this was to say, ‘Don’t let the glamor of a bag get in the way of what you are focused on.”
Russell’s focus has brought him to the brink of starting Saturday and, with it, the biggest spotlight of his career so far. If he plays up to his potential, watch all the current hand-wringing over his social media solicitation turn into clapping.
Also, Mr. Russell has a strong message for Sam Pittman haters. Check it out here:
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