Breaking News: Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Rejecting $7.5 Million, Decommits from East Carolina, and Flips Commitment to dallas cowboys Over Notre Dame and Steelers …
Breaking News: Five-Star QB Shocks College Football World by Rejecting $7.5 Million, Decommits from East Carolina, and Flips Commitment to Dallas Cowboys Over Notre Dame and Georgia Bulldogs
In a jaw-dropping move that has sent shockwaves through both college football and professional scouting circles, five-star quarterback phenom Jaxon Carmichael has rejected a reported $7.5 million NIL package, decommitted from East Carolina University, and stunned fans by flipping his commitment — not to another college powerhouse, but to the Dallas Cowboys.
Yes, you read that right.
The 18-year-old prodigy, widely considered the top quarterback prospect in the nation, bypassed elite offers from Notre Dame and the Georgia Bulldogs to sign a groundbreaking deal with the Cowboys, marking what some are calling the dawn of a new era in football recruitment. The move has left traditionalists stunned and raised questions about eligibility rules, amateur status, and the rapidly shifting landscape of player development.
Originally committed to East Carolina in a decision that had already raised eyebrows, Carmichael had cited a desire to “build something unique” at a non-traditional football school. That storybook narrative took an abrupt turn this week, when reports emerged of several blue-blood programs making last-ditch efforts to sway him. Sources close to the situation say Georgia and Notre Dame offered lucrative NIL packages exceeding $7 million.
However, Carmichael stunned everyone by turning down those offers and opting instead to sign with the Dallas Cowboys under a little-known developmental provision that allows professional teams to secure young talent for training and marketing purposes while they finish high school or defer college.
“This isn’t about the money,” Carmichael said in a press conference held at AT&T Stadium. “It’s about learning from the best, training with the best, and preparing to be the best. I want to be a Cowboy now — not in three years.”
The Cowboys’ front office confirmed the deal, calling it a “long-term investment in elite quarterback development.” Team owner Jerry Jones praised Carmichael’s poise, leadership, and raw talent, likening his presence to that of a young Troy Aikman.
Legal experts and NCAA officials are now scrambling to understand how this unprecedented move complies with eligibility standards. While Carmichael is not immediately eligible to play in the NFL due to age and league rules, sources suggest he will be housed within the team’s quarterback development pipeline, training with staff and possibly even appearing in preseason media or exhibition events.
This development also reignites debates over the future of college football in the NIL era. With a generational talent choosing a professional route over some of the sport’s most storied programs — and doing so while walking away from millions — it may signal a fundamental shift in how top recruits view their paths to the pros.
As for East Carolina, the Pirates are left reeling from the loss of their highest-rated recruit in school history. And for Notre Dame and Georgia, it’s back to the drawing board.
