Could the next Zion Williamson be a center at Syracuse? Or what about under center, the next Trevor Lawrence? Syracuse has officially entered the chat.
Adam Weitsman just changed the game by offering $1 million per year to a five-star football player and five-star basketball player to represent his companies.
“I’m looking for the top players. They have to have great athletic talent, but they also have to be good individuals," Weitsman said.
The owner of Upstate Shredding - Weitsman Recycling, is one of SU’s biggest fans. When he’s not sitting in his suite, you might find him courtside, where he likes to bring friends, like Tom Brady and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Owego native is all about sharing what upstate New York has to offer, and the new name, image and likeness rules has helped him find another way to do that.
“I hope to be able to entice someone to come up here and see this beautiful university. What a great place to play. To get people up here first, I think it’s an easy sell for the university to take care of it after that," Weitsman said.
The NCAA has been very straightforward about one thing when it comes to NIL: Pay-for-play is a no-go. That’s why the billionaire has been very cautious about treading in these murky waters.
“The first year I wanted to stay away. There is a lot of gray area, a lot of unknown. I hired an NIL attorney to help me because my biggest fear is getting the school in trouble," Weitsman said.
Since being implemented last July, athletes are cashing in. Quarterbacks like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams have NIL values of a combined $8.1 million.
"These kids to deserve to make money for themselves and for their families, I guess. This is the wave of the future, even if I agree with it or not," Weitsman said.
It’s time to get on board.
"As long as it passes the legal stuff, hooray, hoorah. Let's go. And who else wants to be a part of it?" Dino Babers said.
Weitsman is doing his part to help steer Syracuse toward the new era.