In a move sending seismic shockwaves across the college football landscape, five-star wide receiver phenom Malik “Jet” Rawlins, the undisputed No. 1 pass-catching prospect in America, has officially flipped his commitment to the West Virginia Mountaineers, turning down a jaw-dropping $90.5 million NIL package offered collectively by powerhouse programs Alabama and Georgia.
Yes, you read that right—ninety. Point. Five. Million.
Rawlins, a 6-foot-3, 198-pound generational talent from Long Beach Poly in California, had long been considered a lock for either Georgia’s championship machine or Nick Saban’s historic Alabama brand. The Bulldogs reportedly offered him a fully guaranteed NIL structure featuring a national car dealership deal, private jet hours, a luxury Atlanta condo, and seven-figure endorsement opportunities with Nike. Alabama countered with a similar package tied to a crypto-backed sportswear initiative.
But Rawlins, in a surprising move broadcast live on ESPN and streamed to nearly 3 million viewers, pulled a classic hat fake—dismissing both SEC giants and pulling out a simple navy-and-gold WVU cap from a worn-out backpack.
“I’m going where my heart is,” Rawlins said through tears. “Not where the money screams.”
The commitment unfolded inside the Long Beach Civic Auditorium, packed with media, scouts, and stunned SEC reps. The Mountaineers’ recruiting budget reportedly didn’t exceed $200,000 in collective NIL offerings, including a modest housing stipend, a used Dodge Ram from a Morgantown dealership, and a scholarship guarantee for Rawlins’ younger brother.
So why WVU?
Sources close to Rawlins say his bond with Mountaineers wide receivers coach and former NFL Pro Bowler Tavon Austin—himself a WVU legend—played a monumental role. Austin’s mentorship and personal visits to Long Beach “meant more than flashy contracts,” Rawlins’ father said.
Rawlins had quietly visited Morgantown in May, under the radar, taking in the scenic views, team camaraderie, and Appalachian humility. “They treated me like family,” he said. “No cameras. No suits. Just real.”
Social media exploded within minutes of the commitment. ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit called it “the most shocking recruiting flip of the NIL era—possibly in college football history.”
WVU head coach Neal Brown released a short but powerful statement: “This is West Virginia. We build, not buy. Malik belongs here.”
Rawlins is expected to enroll early and will wear No. 1 in the fall. He instantly catapults WVU into playoff contention and is already being likened to Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson for his size-speed combo and acrobatic hands.
Meanwhile, insiders report Alabama and Georgia boosters are “reeling in disbelief,” with one SEC executive calling the flip “a wake-up call that NIL money can’t always buy soul.”
One thing is certain: Malik Rawlins just redefined what commitment truly means.