On Monday, former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton had some choice words for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his success with the Longhorn football program, specifically in regards to recruiting.
"Coach Sarkisian, all that sh-t cool, building a culture does take time," Newton said. "But having access to the boosters attached to the University of Texas also helps."
Newton went on to say that Texas also probably has the No. 1 spending in the nation when talking about the Horns' No. 1 recruiting class of 2025.
"[Culture], it's expensive," Newton said. "Man, any great coach knows that for me to be labeled a great coach, I need great players. And nowadays, these players are a great expense."
There is no denying that the world of college football has changed drastically over the last few years with NIL deals and the emergence of revenue sharing. However, to say that the Horns only recruit well because they can spend a lot is a huge shot at Sarkisian's prowess as a recruiter and head coach.
In response, Sarkisian shared a simple message that included the Horns up emoji and the hashtags "#allgasnobreaks" and "#toughallday." With the message, the Texas head coach included a graphic of a Kobe Bryant quote:
"Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones"Kobe Bryant
Newton knows ball, he really knows college ball. The Heisman-winning quarterback led the Auburn Tigers to a national title and then went on to become an MVP at the professional level. However, it has been over a decade since Newton was in school, and without being directly tapped into the sport, it's hard to wrap your head around how NIL works and what it takes to recruit in this day and age.
Also read: Texas quarterback Arch Manning signs another blockbuster NIL deal
Yes, Newton is right about the best players in the country being expensive when it comes to scholarships, NIL deals, and revenue sharing. However, the Ohio State Buckeyes can claim the most expensive roster in college football, not the Longhorns.