with both safety and QB looking good, with safety more long term, and QB more short term (still need Ryder Lyons!).
But hate to lose Wakely, as he really is a self-made guy, not coming in with a lot of fanfare, but became a key player on "D", and made a lot of great plays this year. This, when many were disappointed (me including to some degree, not knowing him) a couple years ago, when injuries forced him and also largely unknown Tanner Wall in to the 2 deep, being one of our last options at safety. But both he and Wall have truly been assets in many ways, including to help bring the younger guys along.
My bet is he comes back with a scholly and better NIL deal, as he is a key part of this defense. We're gonna need to get used to this going forward. A lot of players are gonna be inclined to test the waters in this new world of CFB. It's just something we can expect going forward. Even die-hard team players are going to have some self-interest woven in, and no one should blame them for some of that (within reason). But for a guy like Wall, a key player on this "D," to not be on scholly yet, that's pretty understandable to test the waters / consider the options.