Compared to the time they put in during the season. As they pointed out, a scholie isn't worth much if you don't have time to properly study.
Further, if we want a real sense of a player's worth establish a competing method for their services. An NFL minor league, where top high school players actually negotiate the terms of their employment. It's actually happening with street agents and bidding wars. As in the case of Mississippi State's Leo Lewis. He was a five star and got paid by both schools during recruitment. Neither he, nor the unis who wanted him, bought into the "scholie is worth a lot" bullshit. All parties knew that wasn't a plausible method of establishing market value for his services.
While you might think that an ND diploma is worth these guys getting their brains abscess bodies injured, it's not to most of your top players. As this underground economy of high stakes recruiting has shown, if you want the best talent, you'll need to pay for it. If a kid doesn't work out for your school, he may very well at some other one. No one seems bothered when coaches look for their best fit. Same should be allowed for players...