I finally figured out why NIL was created.

[Turbine]

who says they have to be “on tract to graduate” on or before their athletic eligibility ends

Another potent reason not to use the term "student athlete"

[IberiaCajun]

Another potent reason not to use the term "student athlete"

Maybe use “mercenary athlete.”

[jaxmc1023]

The athletes arent reaching out to anyone.. You have pieces of ____ like Brandon Shelvin going to schools like Houston and saying "what you would pay for Lunch Winfield?"

They shop around for offers and then quietly go to Lunch and say "if you enter the portal we can get you $XYZ"

[MarlinMan3]

who says they have to be “on tract to graduate” on or before their athletic eligibility ends

NCAA: 40 percent of required coursework for a degree must be complete by the end of the second year, 60 percent by the end of the third year and 80 percent by the end of their fourth year...
Technically should graduate sooner than eligibility running out

[MarlinMan3]

There is a NIL no compete, so why are athletes allowed to talk to other schools while under scholarship?

I think tampering and NIL no compete are two different things. Even walk-on with no scholarship nor NIL prospects shouldnt be contacted if not in portal