Tag: NIL

Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton jumps into NIL pool

How would you be taking advantage of the NIL rules if you were currently a college athlete?

It didn’t take long for Notre Dame star safety Kyle Hamilton to begin taking advantage of his name and image likeness as he debuted his own logo and appeared on Cameo as NLI rules officially changed for NCAA athletes on Thursday.

Hamilton charges $49 for a shoutout to you or your family and friends.  He was one of several collegiate athletes nationwide to sign up for the company.

 

Hamilton is the first current Notre Dame player we’ve seen take advantage of the new rules while former Irish, now Florida State offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons is using GoFundMe to help get a special person to the season opening contest against his old squad.

Related: Notre Dame’s 2022 Recruiting Class Commitments

Kyle Hamilton Photo Gallery

Tennessee offensive lineman Parker Ball discusses NIL, academics

Tennessee offensive lineman Parker Ball discusses NIL and academics.

Parker Ball enters his third season at the University of Tennessee.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive lineman came to Tennessee from Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Georgia.

Ball joined the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” and discussed how student-athletes can now benefit from their name, image and likeness.

“I think it is a great time to be a college athlete,” Ball said. “There is a lot of exciting things, not only within our program, but being able to finally capitalize on our NIL.”

The redshirt sophomore also discussed academics and life after football. Ball was named to the 2019-20 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.

“I am majoring in biological sciences with a concentration of biochemistry and pre-med,” Ball said. “Right now I am going through my biochemistry classes, looking to graduate from that in the next year or so, a little bit early. I want to pursue a master’s in business. I think that is something you should always have, you never know when you are going to need that. Eventually I want to go to medical school to become an anesthesiologist.

“Football is huge for me and academics is just as big. It is a very big priority in my life. I am grateful that I get to go to the University of Tennessee and to be able to pursue that.”

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

The entire show with Ball can be listened to here or below. He discusses NIL, academics and baseball.

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Michigan State athletes are (rightfully) taking full advantage of new NIL rules

Michigan State athletes are (rightfully) taking full advantage of new NIL rules

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As of today, the NCAA has finally allowed college athletes to benefit off of their name, image, and likeness, and Michigan State players were quick to take advantage of their newfound freedom, and some are doing so in fun ways.

Exhibit A: Keon Coleman and a slew of other MSU football and basketball players were paid by Matt Sheehan and Wil Hunter to promote their Locked on Spartans podcast.

Hilariously, they also paid Rocky Lombardi to promote an episode they are doing with him:

Matt Coghlin also promoted the podcast before putting out a funny tweet declaring that ‘business is open’:

Jayden Reed was on Instagram promoting The 2nd String, a Detroit-based clothing store:

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Ex-Notre Dame O-Lineman Dillan Gibbons uses NIL freedom for GoFundMe

A very special guest might be present to watch the Irish battle the Seminoles in the 2021 opener.

When former Notre Dame offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons transferred to Florida State, it made the 2021 season opener more interesting. Now, with the new NIL rules in effect, Gibbons has decided to make the most of it, but he’s not doing it for his own gain. He wants a very special person at Doak Campbell Stadium when the Seminoles and Irish meet on Sept. 5. Given this person’s circumstances, that won’t be easy.

Gibbons has launched a GoFundMe for longtime friend Timothy Donovan, who was born with a condition called VACTERL and later was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth, an incurable disease which has affect the nerves in his feet and hands. The two have bonded at football games over the years, but more recently, Donovan’s condition worsened to the point where he hasn’t been as present. Obviously, COVID-19 would have made that impossible last year anyway.

The GoFundMe was set up to raise money for tickets, transportation, meals and lodging for Donovan and his parents for the weekend of the game. Attendance for the recent high school graduate would be possible not only because COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted, but because he recently underwent successful spine surgery that he has responded very positively to. As of this writing, donors have sent nearly $1,800 for the cause. At this point, the question is not whether Donovan and his parents will be able to go to the game, but how much money will be left over.

These Florida student-athletes wasted no time inking NIL deals

The floodgates of student-athlete NIL deals opened early Thursday morning. Here are some Florida athletes who cashed in so far.

The floodgates of student-athletes signing name, image and likeness (NIL) deals officially opened early Thursday morning. Several of the best players in college athletics announced their deals the second the clock hit midnight. This trend has continued throughout Thursday with many Florida players from various sports inking NIL deals. However, the best NIL deal for 2021 has already been won by Arkansas wide receiver Trey Knox. The wideout and his pup Blue were endorsed by PetSmart on Twitter.

Here’s the list of Gators who have announced some partnerships so far that include athletes from sports like football, gymnastics and baseball.

Several more Florida student-athletes announce NIL deals

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Sean Clifford stresses importance of responsibility in new NIL era

Penn State QB Sean Clifford stresses importance of doing proper research before taking advantage of NIL opportunities

It’s a brand new day for college athletes as new opportunities to benefit on name, image, and likeness are available for the first time in NCAA history. The NCAA adopted a new policy regarding NIL opportunities for student-athletes effective today. But while Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford is excited for the doors being open for student-athletes at all levels, Clifford is stressing the importance of every student-athlete doing their due diligence before jumping into the action.

“Excited to see lives change through these new opportunities, ” Clifford said in a statement on Twitter. “It is our duty as the first college athletes to be able to use our NIL to do our research to better ourselves, families, teams, and communities!”

The NCAA officially adopted its new policy regarding NIL on Wednesday, the same day Pennsylvania signed into law new legislation to allow every Pennsylvania student-athlete to benefit on NIL. Penn State issued a statement applauding the decision made by the state of Pennsylvania.

We will all be watching to see how Penn State players and others take advantage of the new opportunities in front of them.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

 

 

Why Alabama fans are distancing themselves from Milo’s sweet tea

An Alabama tradition that is leaving Crimson Tide fans feeling betrayed.

Yesterday, the NCAA passed an interim policy supporting student-athletes’ ability to benefit off their name, image and likeness. Today, college players all across the nation are taking advantage of the opportunity.

One quarterback on Auburn’s roster named Bo Nix managed to land a deal with a local company you may, or may not, have heard of.

Milo’s sweet tea is a southern favorite. It’s hard to open up a fridge in the state of Alabama and not see a gallon jug of the stuff. However, Alabama fans are now taking to Twitter to show they are distancing themselves from the brand.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

One of Nick Saban’s coaching foes refuses to retire despite 2015 promise

A promise was made in 2015. Today was the day to follow it through. He lied.

Nick Saban doesn’t have too many active coaching rivals. He has only lost a handful of times since getting to Alabama in 2007. However, one active coach has stepped on his toes more than once: Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.

Swinney doesn’t hide the fact that he forms his own opinions. He’s also not afraid to share those opinions as publicly as possible. Some of what he’s said has generated strong reactions, some good, some bad.

On Wednesday, the NCAA passed an interim policy supporting student-athletes’ ability to benefit from their name, image and likeness.

As soon as news broke, college football fans on Twitter were quick to point out an old statement made by Swinney: He would retire if college players started getting paid.

A 2015 NBC Sports interview with Swinney has the exact quote,

“As far as paying players, professionalizing college athletics, that’s where you lose me,” Swinney said. “I’ll go do something else because there’s enough entitlement in this world as there is.”

The Clemson head coach has reportedly walked back his stance and is “happy” for the players, according to a recent ESPN article.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

Reggie Bush responded to the NCAA’s new NIL rules: ‘I never cheated this game’

Reggie Bush sounds off.

In a major announcement on Wednesday, the NCAA board of governors ruled that student-athletes would be able to start profiting off their name, image and likeness. And come Thursday, plenty of college athletes waited little time to secure endorsement deals.

But while the decision was an important step that will help current and future athletes, it also put former athletes who were punished for “impermissible benefits” in an awkward position. None more notable than former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

After the new rules were announced, plenty of sports fans called for the NCAA and Heisman Trust to reverse course and return Bush’s awards and records.

On Thursday, the former NFL running back took to Twitter and offered his own reaction to the news.

In a statement, he said that the Heisman Trust still hasn’t been receptive to his calls.

He also added on Twitter that he “never cheated this game.”

The NCAA is somewhat flying blind with these new rules and taking a hands-off approach. But you do hope there can be some retroactive measures taken to recognize what players like Bush accomplished.

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Auburn quarterback Bo Nix immediately scored an endorsement deal after the NIL rule change

That was fast.

It hasn’t even been a full day since the NCAA board of governors announced new rules to allow college athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness, and we’re already seeing the groundbreaking change in action.

Where a number of college athletes announced intentions to pursue endorsement deals, Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was ready to go the second the NIL rules were changed — almost literally.

Come Thursday’s official start of the rule change, the Auburn quarterback took to Instagram and posted his first sponsored photo. He is now endorsed by Milo’s Tea Company. And he made the post right as the clock hit midnight locally.

Nix wrote:

How SWEET it is to partner with @drinkmilos for my first sponsorship as a college athlete! Milo’s Tea is a family tradition at the Nix house—especially for holidays—so I’m excited to represent the best sweet tea ever!

Even North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was impressed with the speed that Nix moved at:

Hey, time is money after all.

While Nix appears to be among the first athletes with an endorsement deal, he definitely won’t be the last. The long overdue NIL changes are just getting started, which might also make for an awkward time for Dabo Swinney.

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