believe these players should be paid for their faces
being used to hawk ND fb.

Per ISD:

"That definitely matters," Staes explained. "Part of playing college football at such a huge program, you want to build your brand. You want to take the success you have on the field and take it off the field to allow people to see who you are off the field and build your brand as big as possible.

"What they're doing with the billboards, I thought that was super cool. Seeing Kyle Hamilton in Atlanta and the other guys around the country was super cool. You can tell they take the Name, Image and Likeness seriously."

Staes was supposedly a layup commit for weeks, so not sure you can make the connection here to a billboard creating substantial recruiting success (not saying you are).

The skepticism is centered on whether elite recruits will flock to ND because of a small, singular tactic (of course not) vs. NFL career goals and winning a national championship. Staes is the #268 ranked recruit overall.

It's a nice little tactic that hints at a broader NIL strategy and possible differentiator for ND. ND is likely lagging other major programs in the NIL arena, like most things.

taken pains to mention a call from Kelly that was allegedly instrumental. The scribes have been handed their talking points it seems.

When Tyson Ford committed to ND in January, it was noted that Kelly had scarcely been involved in his recruitment, while Lincoln Riley had been extremely engaged throughout Oklahoma's push. Ever since then, it seems that every single article and recruiting update has noted Kelly's direct involvement with prospects and commitments. It was a theme on national signing day, the St. Patrick's Day blitz, and this week with the billboard program.

Not that Kelly cares what people think or write about him.

Build him a statue.