FHSAA Approves NIL Bylaw, Groundbreaking Softball Deal, + ICYMI | Newsletter #256
Today’s Thursday newsletter includes highlights from this week, important news from last week, and what to watch for.
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Recapping Major News This Week:
The Florida State Board of Education Ratifies NIL Bylaw
Although the FHSAA voted to approve the policy in June, they officially got the state’s approval on Wednesday.
There are exceptions to the policy, like accepting deals related to vaping or sports betting and barring transfer students from NIL for the year that they transfer.
“At the end of the day, the number one priority is protecting the student athletes. This could be a great opportunity for some student athletes, but we want to make sure they do it in a manner that they are protected and not exploited,” said the Board of Education Chairman.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Softball Player of the Year Nijaree Canady Commits to Texas Tech With a $1 Million Deal
Canady signed a one-year, $1,050,024 deal with Texas Tech’s collective Matador Club for her signing with the university after a month in the transfer portal.
The highest NIL deal heard of previously for a softball pitcher was $175,000.
This type of deal is unprecedented for a softball player, with this deal coming in at almost ten times the average for most players.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Quick Hitter News:
A Gainesville high school chess team is the first in the state to receive an NIL deal - LINK
Notre Dame QB commit Deuce Knight signs his first NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards, becoming one of the first high schoolers in Mississippi to ink a deal - LINK
Five-star recruit Jeremy Crabtree inked a deal with Klutch Athletics by New Balance - LINK
Ohio State football players received around $20 million in NIL, believed to be the largest amount in college football - LINK
Florida Coach Billy Napier files motion to dismiss Rashada lawsuit - LINK
ICYMI
Two Sports Media Companies, Playfly and WSC Sports, Created New College Sports Initiatives
Playfly, a sports media & marketing company, announced the launch of Playfly Max.
The goal of Playfly Max is to provide revenue solutions designed for “a new era of not only Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) but also impending revenue sharing with student athletes.”
WSC, an AI-powered tech company that has predominantly worked with the NBA, is setting its sights on College Sports.
WSC analyzes games in real-time, and creates & distributes countless highlights to digital channels and social media accounts.
CLICK HERE and HERE to learn more.
What To Watch For: NIL has the Potential to Change Recruiting Strategy
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day recently shared his perspective on how NIL has changed recruiting strategy: “The number one thing is wanting to be a Buckeye,” Ryan Day said. “Understanding the tradition, what our city can do, what our program can do, how we can develop you, playing for championships, all those things. If the number one thing is NIL, it probably isn’t the right place for you. That being said, it’s providing some of the recruits more opportunities than there were in the past. We are seeing some different trends, and I don’t know if that has to do with NIL, or the world getting smaller, or whatever it might be — the expansion of these conferences. It would be an interesting study to do, but I know it allows us an opportunity to provide resources for some of these guys on our team that we weren’t able to in the past.”
Recruiting now involves a whole new set of factors for coaches to consider when trying to attract top talent to their programs. With the potential for athletes to earn money through NIL deals, coaches are now tasked with not only selling their school's athletic program and facilities, but also showcasing the opportunities for financial gain through marketing and promotional opportunities. This has led to a more competitive recruiting landscape, as schools are now competing not only for talented athletes, but also for endorsements and sponsorships that could help attract top recruits.
However, athletes now have some power on their side through marketing themselves and capitalizing on their talent. This has not only shifted the balance of power between athletes and institutions, but also changed the way in which recruits are evaluating their college options. Now, student-athletes are able to consider potential endorsement deals, sponsorships, and other opportunities before committing to a school, putting more control in their hands. It is clear that NIL has the ability to fundamentally change recruiting from the student-athlete perspective as well as from the institution side.
Thanks for Reading!
Keep up to date on all of our newsletters and content by checking out past Optimum Sports Consulting Newsletters, and following us on Twitter!