🏅 The NIL Award Nominees are here

Teaming up with

Hey there,

We’ve got the news coming up for you, but before we do, we wanted to let you know about the interview we’ve got for tomorrow. It’s about taxes — and before you roll your eyes, you should know that it’s one of the most unique interviews we’ve had to date. Tim Deegan is an NIL tax expert who will explain the tax system's massive impact on NIL. Tune in to tomorrow’s edition — you won’t want to miss it!

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Lastly, if you’ve got anything you’d like us to know — questions, concerns, tips, anything — hit us up at [email protected]. Now, to the news!

— Cole, Justin and Collin

KICK-OFF

NIL Award Nominees Announced

The 2024 NIL Summit’s NIL Award nominees just got announced, featuring categories like Female/Male Athlete of the Year, Brand of the Year, and the Hustle Award. The event will occur in late June at the College Football Hall of Fame. 

Nominees for the Male Athlete of the Year include athletes across the sports spectrum, from football to track and field. There’s some names you’ll recognize in there – Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Oklahoma-turned-Oregon superstar Dillon Gabriel, and March Madness sensation Robbie Avila.

The award isn’t just for basketball and football, though – the list also includes a lacrosse player from Princeton, an acrobat from Nebraska, and a cross-country runner from Texas. (More)

A Sleeping Giant Waking Up in L.A.?

Despite being located in perhaps the best market in the country, USC has taken a somewhat cautious approach to NIL thus far. Maybe it’s due to the controversy surrounding player payment in the past, but the school seems careful not to overplay their hand, even after NIL became legal.

However, as the NCAA stares down legal challenges, direct athlete payments may be coming. Recent court decisions have torn down many of the previous restrictions on NIL, which may be enough to push the Trojans’ NIL forward. The school just hired a host of additional NIL staff within the last week, which could be a sign of things to come.

“Supporting our student-athletes through NIL opportunities is a critical component of success,” explained the new VP of Operations for USC’s NIL collective. With sunny skies and deep pockets, don’t be surprised if USC’s supercharged NIL efforts bring in major sports success in the near future. (More)

Biggest NIL Sellers for Women’s March Madness

The NIL store just announced its top ten female jersey sellers for March Madness—not by team but by player. The usual suspects dominated the list: LSU had three hoopers, and Iowa had four.

You may expect Caitlin Clark to top the list, but she’s actually nowhere to be found. Instead, her teammate Gabbie Marshall is slotted in at #4, just behind UConn’s Paige Bueckers, who came in #3. Flau’jae Johnson, Angel Reese, and Haley Van Lith took the fifth, sixth, and seventh spots, respectively.

The top two earners came from a surprise school. We don’t want to spoil it for you, so check out the list yourself. (More)

Teaming up with

Hi, I'm medical scientist Clint Winters!

If you are using Ozempic, know someone who does or is considering it, you need to read this to the very bottom. This is GREED in the purest form. 

Ozempic is taking the world by storm for its ability to lower blood sugar and help with weight loss.

But it's expensive and comes with terrible side effects. Which leads me to this BOMBSHELL. This all comes after a whistleblower’s testimony.

During Ozempic testing, it was discovered that a natural alternative had the SAME powerful effects without side effects... And it could be produced at 1/10th the cost.

This was research that was SUPPOSED to be reported to the general public. But it wasn't... It was buried, much like the addiction rate during the opioid epidemic.

Why? Simply to protect billions in profit... And that is why I am writing you today

>>> Here is an UNCENSORED report about a natural alkaloid that has "drug like" blood sugar & fat loss success without side effects.

It was even tested against Metformin AND WON. THIS is the exact information Pharma NEVER wanted you to read. I would read with a notepad or take screenshots so you can reference them later if this gets pulled offline (it likely will)

>>> This is the blood sugar information Pharma does NOT want you to know ... And it could literally change your life.

Clint Winters, Medical Scientist

P.S. I would ensure you read this today. Research reports like this one are being censored all across the internet. You need to get IN THE KNOW today!  

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

How Much Would Kemba Walker’s NIL Be Worth?

March Madness is over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce about tournaments of the past. I stumbled across UConn legend Kemba Walker’s “Cardiac Kemba” shot recently, and man it got me thinking… How much money would Kemba Walker have made if NIL had been around in 2011? Let us know in the poll at the bottom of the newsletter.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Tech Company Looking to Revolutionize NIL

HAND, a tech company that’s been showing off its state-of-the-art digital ID systems, is looking to break into the NIL world with its latest Talent ID registry. “The identity intelligence technology was designed to help tackle threats to Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) rights from unlicensed AI-based deepfakes,” said Jason Dachman of Sportsvideo.org, “while automating talent use for consent-based digital replicas.”

In a nutshell, the technology will help protect celebrity brands – not just student-athletes – from misuse while also creating pathways for someone to license out their NIL and make money.

That second part could prove interesting as an athlete could essentially license their identity out for a commercial while not actually needing to show up to film the commercial. You may remember Hollywood legend Bruce Willis recently going that route, now that his health has restricted him from performing. (More)

• Texas QB Quinn Ewers just signed a deal with Private Jet company Nicholas Air, which will allow him multiple free private flights. He joins Ole Miss’ Jaxon Dart as the only athletes to sign NIL deals with jet companies.

• The importance of NIL General Managers is exploding as schools prepare for a more hands-on and in-house operation. Just like professional leagues, distributing NIL funds effectively is becoming a higher priority.

COLLECTIVE 101

Nominees for Best NIL School Revealed

Remember those NIL Awards we led today’s edition with? Well, they’re not just for athletes – universities are also being awarded for providing an “exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.” 

The nominees include a couple of schools from the SEC, the Big 10, and even some mid-majors. Grand Canyon University – the 12-seed that upset Saint Mary’s in March Madness this year – made the nominee list as well.

As for my prediction? I’ve got to give it to Ole Miss, who consistently surprises me with what they’re able to pull off in the NIL world. They just raked in the best transfer portal class in the country thanks to their innovative NIL strategy. (More)

• Arkansas’ athletic director is calling for fans to pony up NIL money with John Calipari in Fayetteville. “Him and I are on the same page of what it needs to be,” he said,  “It’s my job to give him the tools to make sure that he can be successful.”

• Alabama is facing decisions similar to those of many other schools—should we dedicate money to NIL or athletic resources? Click the link to check out the discussion on whether a new arena should outweigh NIL for Alabama’s basketball team.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Santiago de la Fuente

Meet Santiago de la Fuente, the University of Houston golfer who earned an invitation to play in the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open by virtue of his win at the Latin American Amateur back in January. Santiago is just the sixth golfer from Mexico to play in the Masters. 

Unfortunately, due to his amateur status, he was unable to compete for the prize money of $3.24 million, but the exposure from the tournament will certainly help his NIL. The amateur golfer rules state they cannot receive more than $1,000 in prize money at any golf tournament. 

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NIL BLITZ

♦️ Rebuilding Saint Louis’ basketball roster will cost “several hundred thousand dollars”

♦️ Will Howard of Ohio State is getting a new Bronco thanks to NIL

♦️ Michigan State Federal Credit Union launches Women of Sparta program

♦️ Inside the winners and losers of basketball’s NIL spend: Who flopped?

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BATTER UP

Today’s Poll Question:

Last Edition’s Poll Results:

What's the most important aspect of NIL branding?

• On-field/court performance - 39%

• Social media influence - 34%

• Hiring an agent - 27%