Athletes & Families....Don't Get Blindsided By NIL.

In this new world of NIL, where opportunities and risks seem to grow by the day, today’s athletes and their families often face the question, “Who can we trust?” I’ve spent years navigating this space—from my time as an athlete myself to roles in compliance and administration. And there were times when the tension was real: balancing my personal passion for supporting athletes with my duty to the institution (my paycheck). Looking back... the reality was that no matter how much I was and wanted to be "for the athlete," my roles ultimately served the institution’s interests first, and that’s something families should understand as they navigate these changes.

This need for clarity and athlete-centered guidance brings to mind stories like "The Blind Side." Michael Oher’s story reminds us that the line between support and control is easily blurred, especially when the power dynamics lean heavily in one direction. In Oher’s case, a family that stepped in to help and through that time his rise through the football ranks also lead to their vested interest in his success on the field. Though their involvement made a positive impact on his life, Oher later claimed that his rights had been leveraged without his full understanding—a story that sparked questions about the difference between guidance for the athlete and guidance for someone’s interests.

Today, with NIL in full swing, we’re seeing similar dynamics emerge for young athletes who need guidance but may not know how to recognize what genuine, ethical support looks like. As athletes explore new opportunities, many rely on longstanding mentors or family friends—personal trainers, AAU coaches, or family friends who may have shaped their journey from a young age. But sometimes, that history of support comes with strings attached, where advisors feel entitled to recognition or even financial gain. The big question becomes, Are they invested in me for my success, or for what I represent to them?

Then we get to agents and lawyers. Many families see “Attorney/Lawyer” or “Agent” and assume they’re the gold standard, but here’s the truth: legal knowledge alone doesn’t mean they understand college athletics and NIL. Sure, pro-level agents know contracts and negotiations, but NIL is new and evolving, and the college game has its own nuances—nuances that some in the pro space have never had to consider. Without a comprehensive institutional understanding, they can miss critical pieces that impact an athlete’s campus experience and, ultimately, their overall journey.

Here’s a critical point: NIL representation is largely unregulated. Nothing is stopping someone from calling themselves an NIL advisor or starting a marketing company focused on NIL. Anyone can create a website and reach out to athletes and families, soliciting business. Imagine a family already overwhelmed by the recruiting process... they see “NIL Agent or NIL Attorney” in someone’s bio, and it seems credible. But credentials don’t always mean competence in this space. To put it plainly, some in this arena simply don’t have the depth to deliver.

Just as in The Blind Side, where support could easily morph into control, today’s NIL landscape presents similar risks. Families must establish standards and processes for evaluating these new people coming to the table... the challenge is that you are establishing standards and process in a new space that looks different by the day, the school you choose to go to and in many cases the sport you play... you're aiming at a moving target.

This is where HYPHENATED ATHLETICS steps in. We are institutionally informed and athlete-experienced, having been in both seats—and I understand that both sides matter. I left the institutional side to offer something different, something I’d long felt was needed. For athletes, we bridge these worlds, balancing institutional expertise and empathy, with a commitment to the athlete’s interests. The athlete empowerment movement has changed the power dynamic, but I often wonder: Are we simply moving from one form of “exploitation” to another? The last thing I want to see is an athlete surrendering control to someone in a position of influence without fully understanding the risks.

To athletes and families, I’d say this: Take your time to vet advisors and agents—don’t just look at their credentials, but check their relationships, their history in the college sports landscape… check their receipts. Support should empower you, not control your future.

NIL is an opportunity, and with the right foundation, it can be transformative. Athletes deserve advisors who see them as more than an endorsement. They need representation that’s committed to their growth—on and off the field.

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