Players transfer for a number of reasons. The top one these days is money.

And while many might think those transfers are for instant-impact cash, there’s also an element of future revenue involved.

A good example is Isaiah World, the former Nevada offensive tackle who will spend his final college season at Oregon. In ESPN’s first 2026 NFL mock draft, published this week, World was projected at 23rd overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

ESPN’s Matt Miller writes: “Many thought the 49ers would draft the eventual successor to All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who turns 37 in July. But San Francisco passed on tackles in the 2025 draft, so that need still exists. World transferred to Oregon after dominating at Nevada, and the 6-foot-8, 310-pounder has all-world potential with his elite reach, elite agility and experience. The 49ers need to get younger at core positions, and left tackle should be atop their wish list.”

I’ll almost certainly guarantee you World would not be a projected first-round draft pick had he stayed at Nevada for his senior season, and that’s no knock on the Wolf Pack. But World was never even an all-conference player during his three years as a starter for Nevada in the Mountain West (he’s started 35 straight games). If he lives up to expectations at Oregon, World will cash a ton of NFL money as a first-round draft pick.

Yes, World got a big NIL check from the Ducks. On3 projected his NIL value at $1 million and ranked him as the fifth-best transfer to change teams this offseason. But beyond that initial money, which is life-changing if managed well, the amount of future money World could make with a strong senior season is gigantic. That season coming at a school like Oregon rather than Nevada could be the difference between potentially being a first-round pick or a day two or three selection.

Just look at this year’s draft. Yes, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty went sixth overall, showing a MW star can still be drafted high under unique circumstances. But 56 of the top-58 draft picks this year came from power-conference schools, including three from Oregon, who had a trio selected in the top 46 and 10 picks overall (fourth among all schools). The only non-Power 4 players in the top 58 were Jeanty and North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel, who went 18th overall.

Simply transferring from Nevada to Oregon seemed to boost World’s draft grade after he picked the Ducks over Ohio State, the reigning national champions who had an NFL-high 14 players selected in April.

During his initial Oregon press conference during spring camp, World said his transfer was about his future.

“My goal is to eventually be one of the greats in the NFL, so this is the spot for me,” said World, adding, “The track record here has been unbelievable. Coach (Dan) Lanning had a good program and system for me. I think it’s the right place for me to grow. It’s on the West Coast, and I’m from San Diego. It wasn’t too far from home. I felt like it was the right place for me. I have a couple of teammates from my high school here. It’s a good spot for me to be.”

World also acknowledged the level of competition he’s seen in practice has been a jump from what he experienced in the MW, which also has a potential first-round offensive tackle draft pick in Kage Casey, a junior in 2025 who opted against transferring (we’ll see where both land in the draft if Casey in an early enrollee). World played against good defensive linemen in the MW, but the Big Ten provides a stiffer challenge. That conference had 11 first-round draft picks this year, including five defensive lineman.

“It’s definitely been a change in competition from the level from playing in the Mountain West,” World said of spring practices. “It’s been a higher pace here. They rush faster and bend around the edge. It’s been really good to get against that. I can learn and be ready for any other school because this is one of the best places for rushers in terms of depth.”

World was one of a handful of now former Nevada players with pro potential to hit the portal this offseason, others including QB Brendon Lewis (Memphis), CB Michael Coats Jr. (West Virginia), CB Chad Brown (Purdue) and LB Drue Watts (Memphis). You’re seeing a greater collection of proven Division I talent — in football and others sports — concentrated in the top conferences. That’s a result of NIL and immediate eligibility post-transfer.

In the last three NFL drafts, only four players in picked in the top 50 have come from non-power conference schools (two are from North Dakota State, so kudos to the Bison). In the three drafts prior (2020-22), non-power conference schools had 13 top-50 NFL draft selections.

So, you can’t blame World for transferring up in conference. He’s got a cool backstory, too. From San Diego’s Lincoln High, World originally committed to Arizona State before the Sun Devils dropped him after he was unable to play his senior season of high school due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite having a full recruiting class, Nevada added World as a blueshirt in February 2021.

World played just one full year of high school football and did so more on the defensive line than offensive line with his preference being defense. World grew up without cable television and had as much a basketball background as one in football. If not for COVID-19, he probably would have began his college career at a power conference in the old Pac-12. Instead, he nearly slipped through the cracks.

“I’m grateful for it to be honest,” World told me in 2021 about being offered by Nevada. “I know it could have gone a different way, and I could have ended up with nothing. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity.”

And after Nevada helped develop him and put him on the map, you can’t blame World for not only taking the money this year but also raising his stock for a potential NFL future by joining Oregon.

Sports columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.