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- 🏅 It's only $20K to sit at Coach Prime's table
🏅 It's only $20K to sit at Coach Prime's table
Teaming up with
Hey there,
College basketball is out, and the Masters is in. I hope you’re spending this weekend watching the greatest tournament in golf, and if you’re not, you better be hitting the links yourself. Fun Fact: I shot a 137 in my first golf tournament in high school. I wish I could say I’m much better now, but… well, some people are born especially bad at golf, and I’m one of them. That’s why I find myself on a couch right now instead of in Augusta.
Please do us a favor and look at today’s sponsor, Influxer. They are working on a lot of exciting new roll outs. Check them out here.
We’re currently looking for new advertising partners — reply to this email if you’re interested!
Feedback is always appreciated. Email us at [email protected] to share your thoughts, concerns, and questions. Now, to the news!
— Cole, Justin and Collin
KICK-OFF
The Biggest Winners of March Madness
Social media branding is a crucial aspect of the NIL puzzle. With March Madness seeing a ton of growth on Instagram, who were the biggest gainers?
As far as percentages go, it’s got to be DJ Burns Jr. of N.C. State. He saw his following grow from about 28K to 245K by the end of the tournament. Oakland’s Jack Gohlke also saw tremendous percentage growth, going from 8K to almost 78K by the tournament’s conclusion.
As far as gross follower increase goes, three athletes took the cake. Duke’s Jared McCain passed the 1M Instagram follower milestone thanks to Duke’s March Madness exposure. In second place was UConn’s Page Bueckers, who gained nearly 360K over the course of the tournament. Unsurprisingly, Caitlin Clark added the most of anyone, gaining over 682K followers. (More)
Oregon State Running Back Says Collective “Lied”
Oregon State’s star running back Damien Martinez announced on Twitter earlier this week that he was entering the transfer portal. According to texts sent to a local news source, his decision was at least partially affected by a breakdown of trust on NIL compensation.
“I want everyone to know that they did not buy me a house,” he said via text, “I did. They did not buy me the car. I DID. They did not give me $400K. I didn’t receive even 100K of the 400K… The collective didn’t give me anything. They lied.”
“Every single thing that I or this collective has said that they will do for the student-athlete, we have 1000% delivered, period,” said Kyle Bjornstad, co-founder of the Dam Collective. It’s a he-said, she-said situation, but we’ll keep you updated. (More)
Johnny Manziel is Raising NIL Funds for Ohio State
Former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel is participating in an NIL fundraising event, but it’s not for his alma mater, Texas A&M. Instead, he’s helping out with an initiative to raise money for Ohio State, who possess one of the most extensive NIL programs in the country.
Manziel isn’t the only one, though. He’ll participate in a celebrity golf tournament alongside former Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith, former Texas running back Ricky Williams, and a host of other celebrities. Fans can golf with the legends for $6,000.
While it may seem an odd partnership on the surface, Manziel has maintained roots in Ohio since he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. (More)
Teaming up with
With an impressive roster of over 250 universities and 7,800 student-athletes, the team is revolutionizing the co-branded NIL gear market. From tees and hoodies to long sleeves and comfortable crewnecks, Influxer has it all. And that's not all - they are soon set to unveil an exciting addition to their collection: jerseys!
But Influxer's commitment to student-athletes goes beyond just merchandise. They are dedicated to providing additional opportunities, evident in their employment of over 70 student-athletes for internships.
Simultaneously, the team is working on an app that will serve as the ultimate NIL portal. This game-changing platform will offer live sales and royalty tracking for both student-athletes and administration, a dynamic marketplace for student-athletes and brands to collaborate, comprehensive NIL education, and even career placement capabilities.
In 2024, Influxer is taking things to the next level. They are focusing on expanded rollouts, enticing sponsorship opportunities, strategic bookstore partnerships, captivating pop-up shops, and a plethora of other exciting ventures. The possibilities are endless!
If you're eager to learn more about what Influxer can offer, click here and reach out today. The future of NIL merchandise and student-athlete empowerment awaits!
BEST PRACTICES
Data-Driven Insights into Social Sponsorships
If you’re an athlete trying to score NIL deals, getting inside marketers' minds is essential. What are they looking for in social media sponsorship partners? The Harvard Business Review did some digging and came up with data that should help you figure that out.
Massive follower counts don’t matter as much as you might think. According to the data, 59% of athletes signed by top brands have less than 50K followers, and 17% have less than 5K.
Don’t be a model. Research shows audiences react more positively to candid photos than posed ones. Be mindful of how you’re being perceived… but also make your Instagram feed about your life to connect with fans.
The posts lean toward sports. Now, this isn’t to say successful athletes post highlights all the time. Instead, if it takes a moment for someone to know you’re actually an athlete, you’re not really capitalizing on your NIL as a student-athlete.
We gave you just three this week, but you can check out the entire list of data-based recommendations by clicking here.
DOWN TO BUSINESS
How NIL is Changing the Insurance World
In the insurance world, NIL has created a “fascinating subculture within a subculture, according to Bill Gatewood. Gatewood works for Burns and Wilcox, an insurance company that has been developing insurance plans specifically tailored toward high-profile NIL athletes.
“If you get rear-ended by the quarterback now, you think you won the lottery,” he explained, “Athletes are always targets for lawsuits. It’s just being pushed even younger. It’s a fascinating thing to see what all this NIL money and exposure are going to do.”
By creating this new class of insurance, the company has had to get creative. Gatewood likened his role to that of an orthopedist—he’s a specialist, not a general practitioner – dealing with an altogether unique set of concerns for his clients. For those interested in the business of NIL, this one’s a must-read. (More)
Auburn’s Bruce Pearl joins the chorus of coaches calling for more NIL guidelines. “It’s not exactly the free-market system because in the free-market system, there are contracts. There are non-competes.”
iFOLIO just signed fourteen female Georgia Tech athletes to NIL deals as part of its NIL ambassador program. The women-led digital marketing agency cited Opendorse data stating that only 34% of NIL deals are with female athletes.
COLLECTIVE 101
Penn State’s Collective Connects Two Big Brands
The largest US supermarket chain, Kroger, just added Yerbaé’s plant-based energy drinks to their stores… and as odd as this sounds, it’s because of Penn State’s NIL Collective. Seriously.
According to Businesswire’s press release, “Yerbae's recent national partnership with Happy Valley United (HVU), the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective supporting Penn State student-athletes, has been instrumental in driving distribution expansion efforts.”
“This collaboration has not only opened doors with Kroger,” explained Yerbaé CEO Todd Gibson, “But also paved the way for Yerbaé to explore additional exclusive branded product opportunities with colleges and universities nationwide.” (More)
The University of Colorado’s collective is charging $20K to have dinner at Coach Prime’s table during an NIL fundraising event. That table sold out quickly, so now you can pay about $17K to have dinner at a table near that table.
The Wildcat collective at K-State doubled their number of total donors in just one month, which unlocked a one-time donation of 500K to the school’s NIL. The collective now has over 750 members.
ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT
Davion Guity
Davion Guity is a rising star in Juco basketball who is revolutionizing the world of NIL deals. When he was just 16 years old, Davion started working in the influencer space for Overtime, igniting his passion for promotional marketing. Now, with over 35 NIL deals secured, Davion has mastered business acumen.
Davion's platform is on the rise, and it's no surprise that major brands like Under Armour, PSD underwear, and Tru Height Vitamins have already taken notice. His upcoming commercial with Tru Height Vitamins is just the start of what promises to be a game-changing impact. Davion is using his platform to land NIL deals with companies that work with some of the biggest names in college sports. It's exciting to see the potential that Davion and his platform hold for the future!
NIL BLITZ
♦️ How Private Equity could shake up the NIL game forever
♦️ Curry brand posts billboards in South Carolina celebrating March Madness superstar
♦️ HEYDUDE signs Final Four stars to NIL deals
♦️ Ravens GM: More players are staying in school because of NIL
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BATTER UP
Today’s Poll Question:
What's the most important piece of getting signed to NIL deals? |
Last Edition’s Poll Results:
Will UConn repeat as national champions next season and complete the three-peat?
Yes - 37%
No - 63%
“The collective didn’t give me anything. They lied.”