How college athletes are getting creative and cashing in

These days in college athletics, the biggest acronym isn’t NCAA, instead it’s NIL. Name, image and likeness, more pointedly, the ability for athletes to cash in on their own name, image and likeness and still remain eligible to play college sports. Schools can’t directly pay players or recruits, but boosters from schools and their businesses can, which is changing how athletes choose where to play. This new economic boon, combined with the ability to transfer and play immediately at a new school, is reshaping college athletics at the highest levels. UCF’s spring football game is a good example of this. Instead of the traditional numbers that normally would be on the back of each player’s jersey, the Knights had large QR codes that allowed fans in the stands to find an instant link to each player’s profile page on UCFKnights.com. Even head coach Gus Malzahn wore a QR code on the front of his shirt, one that linked directly to his Twitter profile. “It’s a new day for their own name, image and likeness and we’re embracing that, and our players know that,” said Malzahn to sister station WESH 2. “I think that will do nothing but help us in the future.”It’s not a simple equation. Across the board in the NCAA, the rules aren’t the same for each institution. For example, instead of a standard 85 scholarship limit for college football – there is no limit on NIL deals because the schools aren’t directly supplying funds to student-athletes. Right now, the NCAA allows each state’s legislation to determine what is and is not allowed. For UCF that means it comes down to whatever is on the books for the state of Florida. Brittney Anderson-Duzan is the Associate AD for Compliance at UCF. Her job is to keep student-athletes eligible and on the field or court for the Knights. That used to mean dealing extensively with the NCAA rulebook. Now she estimates 80% of her time is spent on name, image and likeness deals. “Right now we follow state law. As long as we follow state law, the NCAA says the kids are eligible,” said Anderson-Duzan. She acknowledges the current picture is a bit murky. “State law is a little vague.”Isaiah Bowser is a running back for UCF’s football team. He says he’s been educated extensively on what is allowed and what isn’t, but he still doesn’t have a full grasp of the rules. Bowser has held football camps for kids and currently sells t-shirts with his own logos on them. He estimates he’s made a few thousand dollars since the law went into effect July 1, 2021. That number is far short of what players at some power programs are pulling in, and even some recruits who have yet to play a down of college football. “Some guys are making millions of dollars. Quarterbacks – they’re getting opportunities. If I was in that situation, I’d go where I could make that,” Bowser said.Bowser thinks that opportunity will absolutely be a factor for athletes coming out of high school now when they are choosing a prospective college. While schools can’t directly broker deals, some have prominent and public backers leading to players making significant amounts of money. “I think it’s going to be big. For kids coming out – I think it’s important. You’re going where it’s a fit, you don’t want to be miserable for four years in college. You want the right environment. But if it comes down to two schools where you feel comfortable with and some schools have great NIL opportunity and others don’t,” Bowser said.“If I can come to college and make thousands of dollars, I’m down,” he said. It’s not just football. Recently Nijel Pack transferred from Kansas State to Miami. Upon his arrival, he announced a new NIL deal worth $800,000.Malzahn says UCF wants to be at the forefront of helping athletes however they can within the rules. “We’ll play within the rules, whatever the rules are. Everybody is trying to figure out exactly what they are,” said Malzahn. “It’s going to be about the programs that adapt. We’re going to adapt and we’re going to be there for our players.”Watch the video above for the full story.

Schools can’t directly pay players or recruits, but boosters from schools and their businesses can, which is changing how athletes choose where to play. This new economic boon, combined with the ability to transfer and play immediately at a new school, is reshaping college athletics at the highest levels.

UCF’s spring football game is a good example of this. Instead of the traditional numbers that normally would be on the back of each player’s jersey, the Knights had large QR codes that allowed fans in the stands to find an instant link to each player’s profile page on UCFKnights.com. Even head coach Gus Malzahn wore a QR code on the front of his shirt, one that linked directly to his Twitter profile.

“It’s a new day for their own name, image and likeness and we’re embracing that, and our players know that,” said Malzahn to sister station WESH 2. “I think that will do nothing but help us in the future.”

It’s not a simple equation. Across the board in the NCAA, the rules aren’t the same for each institution. For example, instead of a standard 85 scholarship limit for college football – there is no limit on NIL deals because the schools aren’t directly supplying funds to student-athletes.

Right now, the NCAA allows each state’s legislation to determine what is and is not allowed. For UCF that means it comes down to whatever is on the books for the state of Florida.

Brittney Anderson-Duzan is the Associate AD for Compliance at UCF. Her job is to keep student-athletes eligible and on the field or court for the Knights. That used to mean dealing extensively with the NCAA rulebook. Now she estimates 80% of her time is spent on name, image and likeness deals.

“Right now we follow state law. As long as we follow state law, the NCAA says the kids are eligible,” said Anderson-Duzan. She acknowledges the current picture is a bit murky. “State law is a little vague.”

Isaiah Bowser is a running back for UCF’s football team. He says he’s been educated extensively on what is allowed and what isn’t, but he still doesn’t have a full grasp of the rules.

Bowser has held football camps for kids and currently sells t-shirts with his own logos on them. He estimates he’s made a few thousand dollars since the law went into effect July 1, 2021. That number is far short of what players at some power programs are pulling in, and even some recruits who have yet to play a down of college football.

“Some guys are making millions of dollars. Quarterbacks – they’re getting opportunities. If I was in that situation, I’d go where I could make that,” Bowser said.

Bowser thinks that opportunity will absolutely be a factor for athletes coming out of high school now when they are choosing a prospective college. While schools can’t directly broker deals, some have prominent and public backers leading to players making significant amounts of money.

“I think it’s going to be big. For kids coming out – I think it’s important. You’re going where it’s a fit, you don’t want to be miserable for four years in college. You want the right environment. But if it comes down to two schools where you feel comfortable with and some schools have great NIL opportunity and others don’t,” Bowser said.

“If I can come to college and make thousands of dollars, I’m down,” he said.

It’s not just football. Recently Nijel Pack transferred from Kansas State to Miami. Upon his arrival, he announced a new NIL deal worth $800,000.

Malzahn says UCF wants to be at the forefront of helping athletes however they can within the rules.

“We’ll play within the rules, whatever the rules are. Everybody is trying to figure out exactly what they are,” said Malzahn. “It’s going to be about the programs that adapt. We’re going to adapt and we’re going to be there for our players.”

Watch the video above for the full story.