by Griffin Powell

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is a topic that has risen to the top of collegiate athletics. Many athletes throughout the Division one level are finally compensated for their efforts and contributions they bring to the athletic programs. For some NIL is viewed as a burden as they claim it has shifted everything that college athletics stands for. But for many it is viewed as a blessing as they are much more comfortable throughout their collegiate experience.

NIL has been a tough conversation for many athletic administrations since the early 2000s. In previous years it was very tough to represent yourself and gain any sort of profit unless it was from the school in either aid or the additions from your scholarship. Many universities were put on probation and punished for athletes trying to gain from their exposure in athletics. The NCAA viewed this as an “unfair advantage for some schools”. There were many restrictions that the NCAA had put in place to ensure a fair experience for all teams.

On July 1, 2021, the NCAA approved of the interim policy where athletes could finally benefit from their name, image and likeness. As stated previously, NIL is viewed as a problem for some but a blessing for many. I got a chance to ask senior forward for Norfolk State, Kuluel Mading, how he views NIL and how it has benefited him. Kuluel says, “I think NIL is a positive because who put so much time and effort into the school and representing it and I think that we get to be entitled to obtain the earnings we created. NIL not only helps us, but our families as well and I believe that is a big bonus.”

In terms of players, NIL is one of the biggest beneficiaries since freshman were finally allowed to play. In terms of a coaching perspective, it gets much more complicated in that regard. The best players in the country are leaving their programs for “better situations”. Nico Iamaleava is a great example of this. The star quarterback for Tennessee was making upwards of 2 million dollars and left the program to search for a better NIL offer. As a coach this is very complicated because you are essentially creating a roster from scratch each transfer portal opening. I got a chance to talk to Coach McDuffie, a coach for the Greensboro College basketball team and get his thoughts of NIL. Coach McDuffie says, “NIL has shifted how coaches approach college athletes. It is more nowadays on where I can secure the best NIL situation rather than academics or team fit.” When asked whether he believes it is a positive or a negative he says, “I think it is a positive in a stance of players being able to capitalize financially and most of the times help their families. It is a negative due to it impacting the purity of the game. Visits are now viewed as business meetings and kids are choosing schools for the wrong reasons it feels like.”

NIL is a growing phenomenon in collegiate sports, and it will only continue to grow and sprout new outlets for athletes to benefit themselves. For coaches it is going to only get harder for teams to win and continue to win at a high level due to the spread in the playing field. NIL is slowly creeping down to the Division two and Division three levels as well.