According to NCSA College Recruiting (now part of IMG Academy), the largest college athletic recruiting platform, with over 40,000 college coaches using NCSA to find athletes across 35 sports:
College sports are undergoing a major shift, all because of one important question: Should college athletes be paid? In June 2021, the NCAA responded by implementing an interim policy on name, image and likeness, or NIL, allowing student-athletes to make money from their personal brand. However, it can be a bit complex to navigate.
NIL laws vary by state, meaning your state may or may not have its own NIL regulations you must adhere to. Whether high school students can participate in NIL activities depends on the rules set by your state’s high school sports association. Additionally, colleges and universities often have their own unique rules for NIL.
Our guide aims to simplify NIL rules for high school athletes and parents involved in the recruiting process. Understanding what’s allowed and what’s not can ensure your eligibility for college sports and maximize your potential for future NIL opportunities.
Here’s their highly informative website regarding:
NCAA NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS RULE
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Here’s a concise overview worth reading about significant NIL issues:
The Future of College Sports: How Wealthy Alumni and NIL Collectives Will Shape the Game
College sports in the United States have entered a new era with the introduction of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes. This groundbreaking change allows athletes to receive payments for endorsements and appearances, providing them with additional financial support.
However, the rules surrounding direct payments to athletes for playing at a specific school remain intact. To bridge this gap, third-party NIL collectives have emerged, becoming an influential force in college athletics. In this article, we will explore how colleges with large and wealthy alumni pools are leveraging NIL collectives to gain a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining top-tier athletes.
Topics addressed include the following:
• The rise of NIL Collectives
• Donor Collectives: A Game-Changing Factor
• The Influence of Wealthy Alumni Pools
• Financial Incentives for Commitment and Transfer
• Recruiting and Retaining Top-Tier Athletes
• Should NIL Change?
While NIL collectives have provided new opportunities for college athletes, the patchwork of state laws has created an imbalance in financial freedom for athletes. Some states offer more favorable conditions for athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, giving certain colleges a competitive advantage.
To address this issue, officials from the Southeastern Conference are seeking federal guidelines to create a level playing field. However, experts are skeptical about the timing of federal action, as lawmakers debate various legislative proposals.
The introduction of NIL rights in college sports has revolutionized the way athletes can monetize their talents. Colleges with large and wealthy alumni pools, like the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, are well-positioned to leverage NIL collectives and secure the commitment of top-tier athletes.
These colleges can tap into their extensive networks of successful alumni to fund donor collectives, providing significant financial support to student-athletes. As the landscape of college sports continues to evolve, the influence of alumni support and NIL collectives will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of college athletics.
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Since June 30, 2021, when the NCAA implemented an interim policy on name, image and likeness (NIL), here are the latest top 20 college athletes with the highest NIL valuations as of September 15, 2023.
Signing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals while playing college sports offers several benefits for athletes. Here are some key advantages:
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Financial Opportunities
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Business and Brand Building
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Entrepreneurial Freedom
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Community Engagement
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Career Preparation
It’s important to note that while NIL deals offer opportunities for athletes, there are complexities and challenges associated with navigating these arrangements. It Is important that all athletes understand the rules and regulations set by their respective colleges and athletic associations to participate in such.
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Bronny James (son of LA Lakers LeBron James) – $6.1M Valuation
Univ. of Southern California-Basketball-Freshman -
Shedeur Sanders (son of Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders) – $4.1M Valuation
Colorado-Football quarterbsck-Junior -
Livvy (Olivia) Dunne – $3.2M Valuation [my comment: Who the heck is this!!]
LSU-Women Gymnastics-Junior -
Arch Manning (nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning) – $2.9M Valuation
Texas-Football quarterbsck-Freshman -
Caleb Williams – $2.6M Valuation
Univ. of Southern California-Football quarterbsck-Junior -
Travis Hunter – $1.8M Valuation
Colorado-Football cornerback-Sophomore -
Evan Stewart – $1.7M Valuation
Texas A&M-Football wide receiver-Sophomore -
Angel Reese – $1.7M Valuation
LSU-Women Basketball-Junior -
Drake Maye – $1.5M Valuation
North Carolina-Football quarterback-Sophomore -
Bo Nix – $1.4M Valuation
Oregon-Football quarterback-Senior -
Marvin Harrison Jr. – $1.4M Valuation
Ohio State-Football wide receiver-Junior -
Michael Penix Jr. – $1.3M Valuation
Washington-Football quarterback-Redshirt Senior -
Bryce James – $1.2M Valuation
College: Committed to Duquesne University-bssketball-still in high school -
Quinn Ewers – $1.2M Valuation
Texas-Football quarterback-Sophomore -
Hansel Emmanuel – $1.2M Valuation
Austin Peay-Basketball-Freshman -
Jordan Travis – $1.2M Valuation
Florida State-Footbsll quarterback-redshirt Senior -
Nico Iamaleava – $1.1M Valuation
Tennessee-Football quarterback-Freshman -
Jared McCain – $1.1M Valuation
Duke-Basketball-Freshman -
Flau’jae Johnson – $1.1M Valuation
LSU-Women Basketbsll-Freshman -
Blake Corum – $1.1M Valuation
Michigan-Football running back-Senior
Not surprisingly, 9 of the top 20 are college quarterbacks, but who the heck is Olivia Dunne at #3?
Olivia Dunne turns 21: LSU superstar has had HUGE year after meeting boyfriend Paul Skenes, gracing the front of Sports Illustrated and making MILLIONS from NIL deals… so how did it happen, and what’s next?
Today the LSU gymnastics superstar turns 21, yet unlike virtually all of her college friends she will do so with an estimated net worth of $2.3million- according to Marca - and it’s all her own doing.
Over the last two years Dunne has become a social media sensation by posting stunning photos on Instagram and lip-syncing videos on TikTok, which has helped her rake in millions from name, image and likeness deals.
The New Jersey native, who boasts over 12 million followers on the two platforms combined, is also a highly talented gymnast to go with it after taking up the sport at the age of three.
At the end of last year she became one of several female athletes to join the rank of millionaires through NIL deals, along with the likes of Olympic bronze medalist Sunisa Lee and basketball sisters Haley and Hanna Cavinder.
After college athletes were allowed to enter such deals last year, there has been an upward trend of female stars showing off candid and flirty posts to secure millions of social media followers that boosts endorsement deals.
Dunne’s large wealth stems from this rise as an influencer, where she posts sponsored ads on her social media pages flooded with pics of the gymnast showing off her body.
I’ll stop here, but go to the website for the rest of Dunne’s “if you’ve got it [my additions: brains, athleticism and good looks], flaunt it” success story.
This “should college athletes be paid?” Issue has not been fully resolved and will continue on because the NCAA implemented on June 30, 2021 only an interim policy on NIL, allowing student-athletes to make money from their personal brand.
Regards,
Ray