🏅 Expert Interview: Protecting Athletes in NIL Contracts – RevU’s Approach

Hey there,

Navigating the world of NIL contracts can be a daunting task for student-athletes. From vague payment terms to excessive exclusivity clauses, predatory practices often lurk in the fine print.

In today’s expert interview we spoke with Charlie Raisin, Max Rusakov, and Calum Kuhn, the experts at RevU to uncover how they help athletes avoid these pitfalls while balancing NCAA compliance and long-term earning potential.

Learn how proactive legal reviews and streamlined compliance processes can safeguard athletes’ futures and ensure fair agreements.

Let’s get started!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

What are the most common predatory clauses RevU identifies in NIL contracts, and how do you help athletes avoid these pitfalls?

We have seen quite a few NIL contracts, and unfortunately, some contain clauses that could be used to exploit athletes. RevU helps athletes identify and understand obligations before signing. Some of the most common clauses that we address include…

• Vague Payment Terms

  • Some contracts lack clear payment schedules, making it easy for companies to delay or avoid payment.

  • RevU flags unclear compensation terms and suggests explicitly stated payment deadlines.

• One-Sided Termination Clauses

  • Companies can cancel at any time while still holding the athlete accountable. This can lead to unpaid work.

  • RevU enforced best practices for termination clauses, requiring advance notice and payment for completed work.

• Overly Broad Exclusivity

  • Some contracts lock athletes out of future deals—even after the contract ends.

  • RevU suggests limiting exclusivity to a fair timeframe and ensures restrictions are reasonable.

• Contracts Extending Beyond NCAA Eligibility

  • Some deals continue past college, creating compliance risks.

  • RevU helps you ensure contracts expire or require renegotiation when NCAA eligibility ends.

• Sneaky Intellectual Property (IP) Clauses

  • Some agreements grant permanent NIL rights to the company.

  • RevU helps athletes understand how to retain control over their NIL and content usage.

• Excessive Social Media Obligations

  • Contracts may require unlimited posts or endorsements without additional pay.

  • RevU helps you understand your obligations, and map out a reasonable path for execution.  

How does RevU balance NCAA compliance with maximizing earning potential for lesser-known athletes?

RevU’s primary purpose is to protect and inform athletes, not to solicit or push them into any particular deal. We don’t have a stake in whether an athlete signs an agreement; instead, we focus on minimizing risks and ensuring long-term viability. For lesser-known athletes, that often means “raising the floor” of contracting practices rather than “maximizing” short-term paydays.

Our platform keeps a close eye on NCAA and state-specific regulations, regularly updating our best practices to spot and flag potentially harmful contract clauses—like perpetual revenue splits or long-term exclusivity. For instance, a clause requiring 15% of future earnings may seem manageable in college, but it can quickly become a financial pitfall if it follows an athlete into the professional ranks.

By catching these red flags, RevU helps athletes retain flexibility and remain compliant, ultimately safeguarding both their immediate eligibility and their ability to earn down the line. While we don’t promise to boost earnings, we do ensure athletes aren’t locked into predatory deals that might compromise their future opportunities.

Can you share an example where early legal review of a contract prevented eligibility issues for an athlete?

One prime example we witnessed, just days after our product launched, involved an athlete who nearly signed an NIL contract containing an excessive exclusivity clause. This clause required the athlete to seek approval from a particular sponsor before accepting any future deals. By catching this provision early, RevU helped the athlete negotiate its removal. If left unnoticed, the exclusivity clause could have blocked the athlete from pursuing additional sponsorships and—even more critically—jeopardized eligibility if it conflicted with their school’s policies. Thanks to proactive legal review, the athlete preserved full control over NIL opportunities and remained compliant.

Unfortunately, not everyone benefits from the same level of oversight. In cases like Rashada and Sluka, promised compensation never materialized, putting both their finances and eligibility at risk. Worse still, an athlete once unwittingly signed a contract that demanded a portion of their future NFL earnings—an agreement that could have been avoided with proper contract review. These scenarios underscore the importance of early legal intervention in protecting both an athlete’s financial interests and their ability to compete.

With varying state NIL laws and NCAA guidelines, how does RevU streamline compliance for athletes and AD offices?

Athletic Directors (ADs) already navigate a heavy load of compliance responsibilities—from managing rosters to ensuring adherence to NCAA regulations. Adding NIL oversight to their plate can be overwhelming, especially with laws that vary across states, conferences, and schools. Many ADs either don’t have the bandwidth to review individual contracts or prefer to rely on external experts, leaving athletes without consistent guidance.

RevU eliminates this complexity by acting as an unbiased third party to protect and inform athletes. Our platform ingests every NIL deal—no matter where it originates—then reviews it against current NCAA and state-specific guidelines. We have no vested interest in whether an athlete signs a particular deal; our sole objective is to ensure compliance and safeguard all parties involved.

Once a deal is reviewed, RevU automatically generates and submits disclosure forms directly to the right compliance contacts, sparing ADs from tedious paperwork and repetitive tasks. In this way, we help Athletic Departments maintain complete visibility over NIL activities without getting entangled in day-to-day contract management. The result is a streamlined process that keeps schools compliant and frees ADs to focus on what matters most: supporting their teams and student-athletes on the field.

What proactive steps should every athlete take—regardless of their profile—before signing an NIL agreement?

• Build Brand Presence: Building a strong personal brand is essential for long-term success. Athletes should audit their social media presence, highlight what makes them unique, and align with reputable partners that reflect their values. Consistent social media activity, and outreach to target brands, are core to being successful in the NIL space. This not only attracts better deals but also strengthens future career opportunities.

• Understand the Regulatory Environment: The next priority is understanding NIL regulations—both NCAA and state laws—which dictate compliance requirements, contract limitations, and reporting obligations. Failing to adhere to these can jeopardize eligibility, and more. 

• Review Your Contracts: NIL deals often contain complex legal language, so athletes should carefully assess compensation terms, obligations, exclusivity clauses, and termination rights. Consulting with a sports attorney and/or using a contract review tool like RevU can help identify predatory terms and ensure fair, transparent agreements.

• Become Financially Literate: Understanding tax obligations, budgeting, and payment structures prevents unexpected liabilities. Setting up an LLC or other legal entity can provide tax benefits and asset protection.