Present day NIL and how it will impact the future of college athletics Name, Image, and Likeness otherwise known as NIL has skyrocketed over the past few years, giving college athletes the potential to personalize brands and monetize products while still maintaining their amateur status. These athletes can now be presented with endorsement deals, social media presence and influence, and indulge in business opportunities. Although this seems like a good idea considering these college athletes can benefit financially from their fame and hard work, there are many negative unintended consequences. One of these unintended consequences has been changing the mindset about college athletics, more specifically with NCAA Division 1 athletic teams and why prospective students are interested in …show more content…
Before NIL, student-athletes were driven by the fortunate opportunity to play college sports and be able to receive a beneficial education, whereas now these student-athletes are driven by what will offer them the biggest immediate profit. While having that be a main focus, it can disrupt the team dynamic, leading to other problems. According to an article written by Natalie Welch, Assistant Professor at Seattle University, “This money is not supposed to be an inducement or a tool used for recruiting, but it’s obviously impacting potential students when they see what other students are getting at certain institutions.” These potential and current students now have to deal with what deals they can make and how profitable they can be. With the heavy influence of NIL and collectives, the definition of recruiting has changed. In larger D1 conferences, schools not only have to worry about recruiting the incoming athletes from high school but also keeping their current