NIL Newsletter #115 | Knight Commission, Drew Brees, CJ Stroud, Rise HBCU, BLVD Collective + ICYMI Ticker
Welcome to the NIL Newsletter by Optimum Sports Consulting - providing valuable, actionable NIL resources for student athletes, administrators, agents and other sport professionals.
Recapping NIL This Week:
Knight Commission writes letter to Senators Manchin and Tuberville
The Knight Commission endorsed a uniform, federal law in their letter to Senators Manchin and Tuberville, aimed at protecting amateurism rather than allowing athletic departments to become “commercial, auxiliary units.” The group echoed Power 5 commissioners’ request that pay-for-play NIL deals should be prohibited, highlighting 5 principles:
1- “Fairness to Athletes as Students: The Commission believes that NIL rules must be fair and equitable, allowing college athletes to pursue NIL opportunities like other students, provided such opportunities do not unduly interfere with the educational experience of the student or create pay-for-play arrangements.”
2- “Informing Athletes on NIL Rights: The Commission believes that institutions must be required to provide college athletes with information and opportunities to be educated on their NIL rights and related legal and regulatory issues, including the uses of and restrictions on third-party professionals.”
3- “Independent Oversight of NIL Rights: The Commission believes that the management and application of NIL rules (reporting requirements, approval framework, morals clause) must be overseen by an entity led by a board with a majority of independent directors, who are not employed by the NCAA, conferences, or its member institutions.”
4- “Guardrails for NIL Rights: The Commission believes that NIL legislation must protect fair sports competition among institutions and be designed to permit only legitimate transactions between third parties and college athletes for use of their NIL.”
5- “National Uniformity: The Commission believes that NIL legislation must be uniform across all states to provide college athletes with robust protections for their NIL rights while also creating a level playing field for athletes and institutions competing across state lines.”
Drew Brees joining Purdue NIL collective Boilermaker Alliance
Purdue-focused NIL collective Boilermaker Alliance announced Thursday that Brees is the newest member of its executive board. The former New Orleans Saints and Boilermaker star quarterback will be making a meaningful time commitment to the collective’s board.
“I believe in the mission of Boilermaker Alliance and what we are trying to accomplish in developing character and future leaders amongst our student athletes,” Brees said. “We will empower all 385 of them to make an impact. Not just here in West Lafayette. But all over the world.”
Along with the Brees news, the Boilermaker Alliance also announced it is offering NIL opportunities to all 385 scholarship student athletes at Purdue - deals will be available in every sport for both men and women.
“This is a huge NIL development,” said Mit Winter, a sports attorney at Kansas City-based Kennyhertz Perry LLC. “There have been collectives that have offered deals to an entire team. But none have offered deals to every scholarship athlete at a school. I’d expect this to give Purdue a boost in recruiting, especially for sports other than football and basketball where collective deals have been limited.”
As part of its new initiative, the Boilermaker Alliance is already actively and aggressively securing agreements with Purdue student-athletes.
On Monday, the collective announced it signed a NIL agreement with Zach Edey, one of the top returning college basketball players in the nation. Edey is a preseason All-Big Ten selection and potential first-round NBA draft pick.
Ohio State QB CJ Stroud gifts $500 Express gift cards to every member of football team for new game day suits
In a post-practice speech shared Thursday by the Ohio State football team on its official Twitter account, QB CJ Stroud told the Buckeyes that he was giving every player a $500 gift card to Express – one of his NIL sponsors – to buy new suits for the 2022 season.
“I just wanted to do something for the team, so I get everybody $500 gift cards to go to Express and get y’all own suit,” Stroud said, drawing a roar of cheers from his teammates. “Make sure y’all really get some suits, look fly. Make sure we all look good as a team.”
Stroud officially became a brand ambassador for Express, a Columbus-based fashion retailer, in April along with Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Ryan Day said Thursday that he was surprised by Stroud’s gesture, but thought that spoke to the brotherhood he shares with his teammates.
“That's just an example of something that he wanted to do,” Day said. “I mean, nobody asked him to do that. And he kind of surprised me with it. But I think that that's the brotherhood. And that's what it's all about. You don't typically come to Ohio State, because of the guys on the team. A lot of times, you don't really even know who the guys are on the team when you're here. But then once you're here, the reason you play so hard, what motivates you are your teammates. And I think that just goes to show you in a short period of time how close those team has become and C.J. has really become a leader.”
‘Rise HBCU’ collective launches to support all HBCUs
Rise HBCU collective is launching to support all HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Formed by HBCU graduates who were student athletes, they’re focused on connecting athletes with their communities. They’re mission states, “Our mission is to create and provide name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student athletes at HBCUs. We provide education and career development programming to support their career goals. We work to build and foster community through networking and mentorship.”
The press release issued by Rise HBCU says in part: “The Black experience is unique and deeply impactful, particularly the HBCU experience. Rise HBCU is where everyone can act together to support HBCU student-athletes through NIL opportunities and connect with each other in an innovative and inspiring way.”
Rise HBCU intends to SAs with career and professional development opportunities to prepare them for leading roles in and out of sports. The collective says it will work to build and foster community through networking and mentorship. A membership-based model will allow fans and supporters to gain access to exclusive perks, discounts and more.
BLVD collective providing resources for USC families to travel to games
USC kicked off its season Saturday night against Rice, and thanks to the Trojan-focused BLVD collective, a few more families of USC football players weree in attendance. The organization announced Thursday night it will fly more than 50 families to games this season.
No details of the plans were released, but the collective will cover the cost of both travel and accommodation. Families will have the option to choose which games they will use tap into BLVD’s resources.
“We’re paying for transportation and accommodations for more than 50 families this season,” BLVD senior account manager Spencer Harris told On3. “That’s all through and paid by BLVD. We signed contracts with more than 50 kids. They’ll have to do some social media promotion on Thursday, and in return we are going to offset some costs for their parents coming to games this year.”
Thursday’s announcement is just one of a string of initiatives the collective has unveiled this week. The collective announced Wednesday an official partnership with Fletcher Jones Motorcars, the largest Mercedes-Benz dealership in the country. As part of the deal, USC players Jordan Addison and Tuli Tuipulotu will be driving around Mercedes-Benz S500s this fall. The cars are valued at $120,000 a piece.
BLVD is also rolling out multiple shows featuring USC athletes. The videos will be based around cooking, music, video games and fashion. Every participating athlete will receive NIL compensation, all while promoting and building their brand. Distributing through BLVD social and digital outlets, each will focus on different athletes’ passions while blending the unique culture of Los Angeles. New shows and episodes will drop every week.
ICYMI Ticker
Bucknell Athletics' popular mascot, Bucky the Bison, signed an NIL deal with Service 1st Federal Credit Union on Tuesday. Bucky's two-year NIL agreement will officially launched Saturday, when Bison football hosted Towson. Bucky was outside Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium before the game taking photos with kids and passing out souvenirs from Service 1st Federal Credit Union.
USC QB Caleb Williams is featured in the latest Beats by Dre commercial. He takes center stage in a 91-second commercial with “Still Omw” from Blxst in the background. Full commercial HERE.
As previously announced, there’s a new Heisman House commercial featuring Alabama QB Bryce Young - more HERE.
Covington Catholic High School graduates and brothers Michael Mayer, pre-season All American tight end for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and A.J. Mayer, a quarterback with the Arkansas State Red Wolves, have signed a NIL agreement with Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. More HERE.
On3 announced its ‘top 25 most influential figures in NIL.’ List HERE.
DePaul and Athlete Advantage have entered an NIL partnership.
At Saturday’s game against VMI, Wake Forest showed QR codes on their video board that linked to players’ NIL profiles on Opendorse.
Grand Canyon and Student Athlete NIL have launched Heart Of A Lope.
Washington and Opendorse have launched the official UW marketplace.
Louisville, also with Opendorse, has launched its ELEVATE marketplace.
Kentucky, with INFLCR, introduced the BBNIL Exchange.