Donuts, Donor Fatigue, and Harbaugh's Departure

Teaming up with

Hey there,

In today’s newsletter, we’ve got a lot of updates on the business side of NIL. New NIL business opportunities are popping up daily, while athletic giants like Nike are doubling down on NIL. It’s all coming up, right now — just keep scrolling!

Do you follow us on Twitter/X? If not, you should. We post NIL updates, video content, and so much more. Check out our page here, and make sure you’re up to date with all the news.

Did you see our sponsor today? The N.I.L. Playbook by NXT Level Holdings is your key to success in Name, Image, and Likeness. Check them out here to learn more.

Also — we want to hear from you! Especially if you haven’t given us feedback before. Hit reply or send us an email at [email protected] to tell us what you like, or don’t, or want to see more of.

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

Chase Griffin Launches New Platform

UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin was thrust into the spotlight last week because of his testimony on Capitol Hill. In classic businessperson fashion, he has seized the influx of attention to announce his newest business venture, The Athlete’s Bureau.

The Athlete’s Bureau is a media platform that Griffin hopes can help athletes across the country cash in on their NIL. Griffin has big plans for the venture – subscribers can expect information on NIL best practices, and he even has plans to launch the first athlete-led collegiate athletics polling and research service. (More)

How did LSU Women Athletes Master NIL?

LSU female athletes constantly top NIL valuation charts. Livvy Dunne, Angel Reese, and Flau’jae Johnson each have valuations north of $1M – for reference, WNBA legend Candace Parker just made $100K last season. It begs the question… why are women so successful in Baton Rouge?

A new Prime video docuseries will explore just that, focusing on Angel Reese and Livvy Dunne throughout the 2023-24 season. Shaquille O’Neal is among the show’s producers.

Taylor Jacobs, who works on NIL strategy at the school, women athletes may find the NIL space a bit easier to navigate because of their social media savvy: “They create content. They are more comfortable creating content, and they have content plans. They just get more involved in the content piece, which is what a lot of brands look for.” (More)

DoNut Sleep on Him…

One Florida A&M defensive back is cashing in on an NIL deal with Krispy Kreme because of his last name. Jalen Glaze – yes, Glaze – had his eye on the donut shop since he first arrived in Tallahassee.

“After I transferred to FAMU, I got in contact with one of the old players that went to my high school that was trying to be an agent," he told BET, “He got me in contact with one of the owners... and we agreed to get my first NIL deal with Krispy Kreme.”

To Jalen, it’s a good deal because he loves the product: “I actually like Krispy Kreme. I felt like it was the best way to go when it came to marketing.” (More)

Teaming up with

Want to go a step deeper?

The N.I.L. Playbook, developed by NXT Level Holdings, is a comprehensive guide designed for college and high school student-athletes looking to learn more about their new opportunities.

The book is useful to coaches, administrators, parents, alumni and NIL industry pros to help navigate the rapidly evolving landscape in college and high school athletics.

The Playbook covers everything. Topics include: how to utilize social media to build your personal brand, how to seize potential N.I.L. partnerships, and what to look for in contracts — not to mention tons of other resources and strategies that student-athletes can use to enhance their profile and monetize their Name, Image and Likeness.

Check it out today! 

BEST PRACTICES

Navigating High School NIL?

Many have asked us about what NIL looks like for high school student athletes. Unfortunately, it’s not black and white — it comes down to the state you live in.

Some states such as: Georgia, Illinois, and Tennessee have all passed legislation allowing high school student athletes to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness. While others, like Ohio and Arizona, prohibit NIL.

Before engaging in potential deals, check to make sure you know the specific regulations in your state. Here are few resources that can help.

Check to see what your state has to say on the matter, and how you can stay compliant.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Nike Hits Hoops Hard with NIL

While rival athletic brands like New Balance try to carve out space in more niche NIL markets like running, Nike continues to hammer the more popular sports – like basketball – with NIL investment. They just signed the 2025 top men’s recruit, AJ Dybantsa, as well as the top women’s recruit in 2026, Jerzy Robinson.

“When you think about basketball Nike is the first name you immediately think about,” said an agent involved in the NIL space, “And to work a deal that positions themselves with the two next big things is significant. This puts Jerzy and AJ in the same conversation with Bronny [James], Caitlin [Clark], Juju [Watkins] and Paige [Bueckers].” (More)

• According to a recent study, college football is the third most popular sport among Gen Z. 42% of Gen Zers say they’re either “casual” or “avid” fans of college football – signaling future growth in the NIL market.

• Trading card company Leaf just launched anime trading cards for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe and Colorado DB Travis Hunter. Both are sophomores, and figure to be amongst the highest NIL valuations in college football next season.

COLLECTIVE 101

Will Donor Fatigue Affect Parity?

One of the biggest challenges NIL collectives face in 2024 is combatting donor fatigue. When people give thousands of dollars for roster construction, they want on-field results – but that’s not always what they get.

Collectives around the country are getting creative to combat this issue, as we’ve talked about before. That means manufacturing hype, even when hype isn’t really there. 

Professor Noah Henderson is predicting that this fatigue will lead to parity problems as the “blue blood” programs are the only ones bringing in consistent funds. Unless collectives can to bring in money during down-years, they risk a downward spiral as donors lose hope. (More)

• UT-San Antonio is partnering with Locker Room Finance to provide financial literacy to student-athletes on campus. The financial wellness company’s founder is a UTSA grad himself.

• Despite Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL, the Wolverines should be set up pretty well to compete for a national title next year thanks to their deep-rooted NIL infrastructure. “Over the past year and a half, they’ve quickly gone from not focused to one of the most outstanding NIL setups in college football,” said one NIL observer.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Ja’ Kobe Walter

Meet Ja'Kobe Walter, who is currently making headlines at Baylor. Not only is the freshman a formidable force on the college courts, but Ja'Kobe also boasts an impressive number 26 ranking in On3’s NIL valuation charts, sitting at $426,000. 

Breaking into the business side of the game, Ja'Kobe is part of an exclusive group of six top NBA prospects who've recently signed a groundbreaking NIL deal with Panini America, the exclusive trading card partner of the NBA and the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company. 

NIL BLITZ

♦️ Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin meets with Charlie Baker to talk NIL reform

♦️ Penn launches their own NIL marketplace

♦️ Steve Pikiell talks about how important collectives are to Rutgers

♦️ Caitlin Clark gifts sneakers to teammates with NIL

♦️ Kent State partners with Athletes Thread for NIL

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

How high can golf sensation Nick Dunlap's NIL valuation rise?

• Top 50 valuation- 39%

• Top 20 valuation- 15%

• Top 10 valuation- 13%

• Top 5 valuation- 33%