This week, on the heels of our reports on the top NIL agents who work primarily on the G6 level as well as the ones who focus more on P4 schools, we decided to turn the tables, asking NIL agents who worked at both levels which GMs they respect the most. Of course, when you ask these questions, you get more than just lists. You also get thoughts on the game as it has evolved (and is evolving).

We thought we’d pass along some of the more interesting observations here.

• “(General manager is) a relatively new position and I think a lot of people are not well-suited for the spot. I think we’re still at a point where a place developed a job description around a person as opposed to finding a person for that job description. A lot of people don’t have that skill to balance the books and evaluate and lead a staff. A lot of them don’t know enough football or know enough people in football. Like, you were making sure the chicken got to the locker room for postgame meal and made sure the bus driver had a room, but can you handle the enormity of putting together a roster?”
• “The best general managers in my estimation are the ones that understand their school and its limitations as well as its strengths. And where they’re at. Like, if a school is taking a long time and that’s part of their process at that school, they tell us. If they need to to get more clearance from the tower at their place, they tell us. That helps put things at ease. They accept fault when it’s theirs and they don’t pass the buck.”
• “I think they best ones try to incorporate the coaching staff early on to make the player feel comfortable. The player isn’t accustomed to talking to front office types. They’re more accustomed to talking to coaches. I think that’s the best way to do it because they’re the ones that are gonna be coaching the player.”
• “Not a dig at anyone, but there are a lot more bad (front offices) than good ones. . . The good ones stick out. A good bit of that, I think, is just growing pains in this new landscape, which is understandable.”

I thought all of these comments were well-founded. The GM position is brand new. Even with all the dollars and brainpower delivered to hiring the people who sit in those seats, there’s going to be a learning curve.

Speaking of learning curves, the transfer portal is still so new, and college front offices still so much in flux, that it’s hard to even have an informed opinion on who’s doing the job the best. Whenever I visit a school, I ask the GMs who they respect the most. More often than not, they can’t, or won’t, name anyone. They may know the GMs in their region, or the ones in their conference, but the best ones in the nation? No chance. Just too hard to know who’s good. I don’t know that that changes anytime soon.

Shifting gears, as we gathered info from NIL agents, we also got a few extra comments on who’s on the rise, at the P4 and G6 levels. Just for fun, I thought I’d include them here.

• “A guy who will be a P4 GM who has been tremendous is Taylor Redd at Oklahoma.”
• “I know you didn’t ask for Assistant GMs, but Sam Popper is a huge part of what makes San Diego State so enjoyable to work with and deserves recognition, too.”
• “I think future stars (include) . . . Marshall Cherrington at (California).”
• “Asst. GMs – John Srofe (Indiana), Jack Griffith (Penn State).”

For even more on this topic, including what NIL agents told us about who the best G6 general managers are, make sure to check out today’s post at Inside the League and this evening’s edition of the Friday Wrap. Register here if you don’t already get our free newsletter.