12 Best NIL Opportunities for High School & College Athletes
The Bigger NIL Opportunity Is Building a Brand
Athletes should understand one important distinction:
Your athletic ability creates attention. Your brand determines what you can do with that attention.
Rankings change. Recruiting classes move forward. Seasons end. Playing careers eventually end too.
A personal brand can remain.
That means athletes should be thinking about their photography, social media presence, reputation, communication skills, community involvement and the story surrounding them before an NIL opportunity arrives.
The athlete who starts building at 15 or 16 has an advantage over the athlete who waits until a company finally reaches out.
There is also a compliance component that cannot be ignored. NCAA rules require legitimate NIL deals to have a valid business purpose and reasonable compensation, while pay-for-play remains prohibited. Division I prospects also have disclosure requirements for certain third-party NIL agreements.
For Georgia high school athletes specifically, GHSA allows NIL activity but places significant restrictions around it. Compensation cannot be tied to athletic performance, used as an enrollment incentive or provided by the school or someone acting as its agent. School logos, uniforms, facilities and other school intellectual property cannot be used for NIL activities, and NIL agreements must be reported to the principal or athletic director within seven calendar days. GHSA also prohibits athletes from receiving compensation or benefits from NIL clubs or collectives.
Athletes and parents should always check their own state association, school, conference and collegiate rules before entering an agreement.
Visibility Creates Opportunity
NIL has changed what is possible for athletes, but opportunity still starts with visibility.
The goal should not be to look famous.
The goal should be to become marketable.
Build the audience. Develop the image. Create quality content. Establish relationships. Understand your value.
Then, when the opportunity comes, be prepared to turn that visibility into something bigger.
VD Athlete | Visibility Creates Opportunity
