LOS ANGELES — The extra 18 pounds pop off Marquis Gallegos’ shoulders, the safety’s frame once reed-thin a matter of months ago at Sierra Canyon High before undergoing a complete physical transformation at USC.
This winter, Gallegos was invited to the Polynesian Bowl, one of the premier end-of-season showcases for high school football recruits. He turned it down – a January vacation to Hawaii, essentially – to stay and work out at USC, trying to get a leg up in a crowded secondary entering spring ball. The results are apparent in his biceps, a safety with standout IQ suddenly adding collegiate-level strength; he’s caught the eye of USC football coach Lincoln Riley himself.
A couple weeks into spring, though, Gallegos still hasn’t received a contract offer from USC’s NIL donor collective House of Victory.
This, of course, is far from the end of the world. In his recruitment process, USC “stood out,” Gallegos told the Southern California News Group back in the fall, because they were genuine. They didn’t toss money around. They did tab Gallegos’ earning potential through House of Victory at a baseline of around $75,000, his father Sam Gallegos said, similar to other programs recruiting his son.
But as of now, Gallegos isn’t guaranteed to receive any NIL earnings his freshman year – until and unless he earns a separate endorsement deal or USC’s donor collective sees enough value to give him a check.
“The way I see it is, if they’re not giving it to him now, it means they kinda don’t think he’s a face they can push and promote right now,” Sam Gallegos said. “But I’m so confident in him … where eventually, when we do get invited to one of those House of Victory or anything, we’ll be able to negotiate.”
For years, the reality of NIL at USC has been complicated, as the school has dipped its toes cautiously into the waters of collegiate earning potential. NCAA rules have long mandated against collectives…
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