Alabama's GM contract for Courtney Morgan deemed industry-changing by the experts
Alabama's three-year deal, averaging $825,000 per year, for football GM Courtney Morgan is one that the industry experts feel will change the sport as we know it -- putting a high financial emphasis on a position that, until recently, had been a staple only in pro sports.
Reese's Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy labeled it a "game-changer" in the scouting landscape for both Division I and NFL football.
"Massive deal for anyone working in college football or NFL player personnel," Nagy prefaced before saying, "Rapid and exponential revenue increases at both levels have reached players and coaches but evaluation roles haven't seen anywhere near same growth. This deal could/should be a game-changer in scouting landscape."
ESPN's Pete Thamel spoke directly to the future of college football; alluding to million-dollar front offices for what was once an amateur sport.
"College football is changing fast," Thamel said. "We're on the cusp of front office million-dollar salaries."
Morgan was Kalen DeBoer's first Crimson Tide hire, and will have just as big of a hand in the post-Nick Saban era as "Husky Harsin."
Who is Auburn's football general manager?
Will Redmond is Auburn's GM of Player Personnel. His hiring was deemed a "big boy move" for Hugh Freeze and Co. by Footballscoop's John Brice.
Auburn isn't behind the times on this industry trend. Quite the opposite, actually.
Despite handing out large buyouts to both Gus Malzahn and Bryan Harsin, AU has done well to raise funds through the On To Victory NIL collective and through its strong base of boosters to compete and thrive on the recruiting trail during Freeze's tenure. That all started with gaudy front office spending too.
Redmond's effect on the product will be seen in 2025 and beyond, with the headline 2024 flips happening before he arrived in January. But Derick Smith, Alvin Henderson, and Antonio Coleman are game-changing additions since he arrived.
The Tigers are ready for the college football front office arms race.