West Virginia Player Gets Free Car, Then Leaves the Mountaineers

Morgantown, West Virginia – West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo signed a Name Image Likeness (NIL) deal with local car dealership Toothman Ford last month.  Today, Chandler-Semedo decided to leave the Mountaineers and enter the transfer portal.

Toothman Ford has been the most supportive business in the state in terms of inking deals with West Virginia athletes. Toothman Ford has deals with multiple student-athletes at WVU, including Nicco Marchiol, Kaden Prather, Dante Stills, Sam James and Zach Frazier, among many others.

The deals have involved Toothman Ford providing the players with a vehicle in exchange for promotional ads on social media. After Chandler-Semedo appeared in an advertisement with him holding up a football in a Toothman Ford social media post, he received his compensation and will now move on.

This situation is just another painful reminder of how challenging and nasty NIL has become in college athletics.