NIL

Clemson Baseball Pitchers Create New NIL Blueprint With Student-Athlete Brand

The No. 11 Clemson Tigers are preparing to face the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament after falling short in the ACC college baseball championship. That’s led to a more adversity-riddled path than a win against the UNC Tar Heels would have awarded the Tigers with a coveted top […]

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1 week ago

May 28, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The No. 11 Clemson Tigers are preparing to face the No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats in the first weekend of the NCAA tournament after falling short in the ACC college baseball championship.

That’s led to a more adversity-riddled path than a win against the UNC Tar Heels would have awarded the Tigers with a coveted top eight seed.

Two of the pitchers on staff are offering a new way for fans to engage outside of home-field advantage, as the team does not have the opportunity to host a Super Regional if they advance from the regional stages.

Clemson pitchers Aidan Knaak and Justin LeGuernic have accomplished an incredible feat in the NIL space.

Clemson Pitchers Launch First-Ever Student-Athlete NIL Brand

On Tuesday, Knaak and LeGuernic became entrepreneurs and launched their new athlete-owned brand, Cardiak Cats.

The Cardiak Cats hats are available exclusively on their website, with a limited supply of the hats running ahead of the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The limited product launch features their personally designed baseball hats that have a unique style in the spirit of their on-field personalities and fan pride.

The duo came up with the brand name in ode to the exciting, come-from-behind style of play that the Tigers are known for.

“This whole thing started with an idea during a road trip: what if we created something that really felt like us?” Knaak said in a press release. “We wanted a brand that captured the energy of playing in big moments and gave fans something authentic to rally behind.”

NIL deals can feel robotic sometimes, with star athletes pushing products they might not feel that strongly about. That can’t be said for the product Knaak and LeGuernic are behind.

“We worked hands-on with a design team to make sure every detail felt right,” LeGuernic said. “It’s about more than a hat… it’s about building something from scratch and putting our name behind it, literally.”

Most of the talk in the NIL space focuses on college football and basketball, with the upcoming House v. NCAA settlement expected to bring revenue sharing to schools with those teams prioritized.

College baseball has been lost in the shuffle, and the NIL deals aren’t as readily available or prominent for these players.

Perhaps the pitching duo has stumbled upon a new blueprint for student-athletes.

It’s the first-ever independent student-athlete-owned apparel venture in college sports, making it a historic launch for a quieter sport in the landscape.

There’s an importance in the name, image, and likeness world of knowing one’s branding and how to self-promote. The more student-athletes find avenues to innovate and become entrepreneurs, the better the state of college sports is for it.

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NIL

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs NIL bill. How does it impact college athletes?

Caleb Yum, Austin American-Statesman | Hearst – Austin Transition The details of the House settlement with the NCAA may not have finished, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Thursday that will end the NCAA’s decades-old prohibition on universities paying players directly. Under House Bill 126, colleges will be able to enter into […]

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18 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Caleb Yum, Austin American-Statesman
| Hearst – Austin Transition

The details of the House settlement with the NCAA may not have finished, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Thursday that will end the NCAA’s decades-old prohibition on universities paying players directly.

Under House Bill 126, colleges will be able to enter into name, image and likeness deals with athletes directly. Current state laws only allow students to have NIL agreements with third-party brands. The bill allows athletes over 17 who have enrolled in college to sign deals, but the right does not extend to high schoolers.

More: Texas football quarterback Arch Manning signs NIL deal with Red Bull

Schools will be allowed to provide a total of $20.5 million to their athletes annually. They will also be able to use the funds to recruit high school athletes, which is not allowed under the current system.

Further developments are possible depending on what happens with the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement. Both sides are waiting for the final judgment on the deal, which would provide backpay to former collegiate athletes and allow revenue sharing between schools and their players. The deadline for resolution is June 27, with sharing expected to start July 1. If the House deal differs from Texas’ law, it would automatically conform to the NCAA changes without the need to pass new legislation, per KBTX.

The state law is expected to go into effect Sept. 1.

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NIL

Syracuse basketball’s NIL budget is competitive, Adrian Autry says, but UNC has $14M

Head coach Adrian Autry said in early March that he believed Syracuse basketball would be more prepared to succeed in the transfer portal this off-season as compared to a year ago, in large part due to the recruiting prowess of general manager Alex Kline. Another factor, I imagine, is the Orange’s name, image and likeness […]

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20 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Another factor, I imagine, is the Orange’s name, image and likeness (“NIL”) budget for the program. I don’t have specific numbers, but anecdotally speaking, it appears that the ‘Cuse has greater NIL resources for the 2025-26 season than it did in 2024-25.

To that end, Syracuse.com’s Mike Waters, a Hall of Fame writer, spoke with Autry this week about Syracuse basketball and NIL. Mike’s piece is a subscriber-exclusive, and I’ll always respect his work, but what I will say is that Autry believes his team is competitive in the NIL space, as it pertains to recruiting via the transfer portal as well as player retention and at the prep level.

Ahead of the 2025-26 term, as the Orange eyes returning to the NCAA Tournament after a four-year absence, the ‘Cuse currently has 13 scholarship players, the maximum allowed by the NCAA unless the House settlement is approved, which could increase the scholarship limit to 15.

Syracuse basketball is competitive with its NIL, Adrian Autry says.

The team’s 2025-26 line-up includes key returnees J.J. Starling, a guard, and Donnie Freeman, a power forward, along with six college transfers and five high school commits. When I wrote this article, on the 247Sports Web site, the Orange’s 2025 recruiting class was No. 10 at the prep level, No. 33 via the portal and No. 18 overall.

While specifics aren’t necessarily available in the public domain, one can logically assume that the ‘Cuse NIL budgt for 2025-26 was solid, given that Starling and Freeman are returning, along with the other college transfers and high school players coming in, such as 2025 four-stars Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White Jr., as well as Georgia Tech point guard Naithan George and Oregon State wing Nate Kingz.

Also, let’s not forget that Syracuse basketball is expected to compete in a lucrative, NIL-driven event in Las Vegas later this year, and assuming the House settlement is approved, SU Athletics has said it will spend the maximum cap of roughly $20.5 million in direct revenue-sharing with its athletes in 2025-26.

Plus, SU Athletics announced earlier this year that it has launched a three-year, $50 million fund-raising campaign that will focus on player attraction and retention. My point with all of this is that Syracuse basketball, football and other sports should be competitive in NIL.

Then again, a report from 247Sports came out earlier this week stating that fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school North Carolina has more than $14 million in NIL for the upcoming season, which is a massive number.

I don’t know for sure, but it’s likely that Syracuse basketball’s NIL budget for 2025-26 is nowhere close to $14 million. Then again, UNC is a blue-blood program, so maybe comparing the Orange’s NIL spending to the Tar Heels’ is a silly thing to do.

Let’s see how the ‘Cuse fares on the court this fall and into next year. To me, it’s not about how big of an NIL budget the Orange has, per se. It’s whether Syracuse basketball can return to its winning ways.

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Duke Star Cooper Flagg's NIL Earnings Rival NBA Lakers Salaries

Cooper Flagg, the Duke basketball star and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, reportedly earned a staggering $28 million through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals during his single college season, according to veteran journalist Howard Bryant. Cooper Flagg is ready for the NBA after becaming a Duke legend The financial revelation […]

Published

56 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Duke Star Cooper Flagg's NIL Earnings Rival NBA Lakers Salaries

Cooper Flagg, the Duke basketball star and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, reportedly earned a staggering $28 million through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals during his single college season, according to veteran journalist Howard Bryant.

Cooper Flagg is ready for the NBA after becaming a Duke legend

The financial revelation came during Bryant‘s recent sit-down with legendary broadcaster Bob Costas at “The 92nd Street Y” event. According to the report, Flagg’s lucrative NIL portfolio included a $13 million deal with New Balance and an additional $15 million agreement with Fanatics, all before he played a single minute for the Blue Devils. These earnings put the college freshman in a unique position of potentially taking a pay cut when entering the professional ranks.

Cooper Flagg’s College Earnings Compare To His Future NBA Rookie Salary

The Dallas Mavericks, who held less than a two percent chance to win the NBA draft lottery, now plan to select Flagg with the top overall pick. Financial projections from Spotrac indicate his rookie NBA contract will be worth approximately $62.7 million over four years, averaging just under $16 million per season. Remarkably, this salary structure puts his initial NBA compensation almost exactly in line with what he earned during his single year at the collegiate level.

This unprecedented situation flips the traditional script on amateur athletics, where college has typically represented a financial sacrifice before the payday of professional sports. Flagg’s case illustrates the dramatic impact of NIL legislation, which has transformed college sports since the NCAA policy change in 2021. For context, even established NBA veterans like Grayson Allen – another Duke product – earned around $16 million this past season while averaging 10.6 points over 64 games for the Phoenix Suns.

To maximize his earning potential at the next level, Flagg has signed with powerhouse agency CAA to navigate his endorsement opportunities as he transitions to the NBA. Industry experts anticipate he will continue building his personal brand with additional high-profile partnership deals to supplement his NBA salary.

The Economy Has Changed For The NCAA

Flagg‘s financial success as a student-athlete highlights the rapidly evolving economics of college sports. Currently ranked just behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the second-most marketable NIL athlete in collegiate sports, Flagg has leveraged his extraordinary basketball talent and marketability to unprecedented financial gain before turning professional.

For perspective on how extraordinary Flagg’s compensation package is, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum leads the NBA with a $62.7 million average annual salary – only slightly more than double what Flagg earned as a college freshman. This comparison underscores how elite college athletes with significant marketing appeal can now command compensation packages rivaling established professional athletes.

The Mavericks‘ lottery win has generated its own controversy, with some fans suggesting conspiracy theories that Dallas won the right to select Flagg as compensation for trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Regardless of the lottery’s legitimacy, the Mavericks are poised to add a transcendent talent who enters the league with not only tremendous on-court potential but also an established financial portfolio that puts him ahead of many NBA veterans both on and off the court.

NIL

No. 1 College Basketball Recruit AJ Dybantsa Receives Massive $4.1 Million NIL Update

BYU Cougars signee AJ Dybantsa is one to watch for as he enters college basketball next season. As a high school recruit, he was a five-star and rated as the No. 1 player in the class of 2025 (On3 Sports). Back in December, the 6-foot-9 small forward announced his commitment to BYU, choosing the Cougars over three […]

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57 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Back in December, the 6-foot-9 small forward announced his commitment to BYU, choosing the Cougars over three of college basketball’s biggest names: UNC, Kansas and Alabama.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Dybantsa saw a significant jump in his On3 NIL valuation—up $274k to a total of $4.1 million.

We are living in a new era of college sports, with the leading beneficiaries being the players and the schools with big-market athletic programs. Including his landing of brand deals with Nike and Red Bull, Dybantsa is on a contract with BYU to receive over $7 million this season, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times.

The Cougars have emerged as an NIL juggernaut, especially after the hiring of head coach Kevin Young back in April. Young, in fact, was reportedly one of the biggest reasons Dybantsa elected to take his talents to Provo, Utah.

“A lot stood out during my visit,” the Massachusetts native said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “Obviously, coach Kevin Young’s there. My ultimate goal is to get to the NBA, and he coached my favorite player of all time, Kevin Durant.”

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Former Tony Robichaux teammate, assistant joins UL’s staff | UL Ragin’ Cajuns

UL baseball’s coaching staff got one spot larger Thursday with the addition of Jimmy Ricklefsen. The longtime assistant coach and former McNeese State head coach has been added to coach Matt Deggs’ staff in a new position concentrating on recruiting. The 1986 McNeese graduate was a teammate of Tony Robichaux at McNeese and later coached […]

Published

58 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UL baseball’s coaching staff got one spot larger Thursday with the addition of Jimmy Ricklefsen.

The longtime assistant coach and former McNeese State head coach has been added to coach Matt Deggs’ staff in a new position concentrating on recruiting.

The 1986 McNeese graduate was a teammate of Tony Robichaux at McNeese and later coached under Robichaux beginning in 1987. When Robichaux took the UL job, Ricklefsen was the Cowboys’ head coach before going to Lamar from 1998-2015.

He returned to McNeese from 2016 until this past season as assistant coach, including associate head coach the last two seasons.

The Cajuns are coming off a 27-31 season, searching for new successes in the evolving transfer portal and NIL world of college baseball.

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NIL

Becroft Named Academic All-American for Third Straight Year

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s Isaac Becroft was honored for his work in the classroom recently, being named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Men’s Tennis Third Team. Becroft’s accomplishments have not been achieved on the court alone, but also in the classroom. The recent Cowboy tennis alum earned Academic All-America status for the third […]

Published

59 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s Isaac Becroft was honored for his work in the classroom recently, being named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Men’s Tennis Third Team.

Becroft’s accomplishments have not been achieved on the court alone, but also in the classroom. The recent Cowboy tennis alum earned Academic All-America status for the third straight year, joining an elite group of just five Oklahoma State student-athletes who have accomplished that feat.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the career and impact that Isaac had over his four years here at Oklahoma State and to finish it off being named to his third Academic All-American team is only fitting,” head coach Dustin Taylor said. “He’s left a lasting impact and legacy on Cowboy Tennis with his standard of excellence in everything that he does. We are forever grateful and cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.”

Becroft joins Adriane Ballner (Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field – 2018-21), Hannah Webb (Soccer – 2019-21), Ryan Vail (Men’s Cross Country/Track and Field – 2008-10), Tom Wolf (Football – 1972-74) and Vanessa Shippy (Softball – 2016-18) as OSU student-athletes to earn CSC Academic All-America status three or more times.

The three-time Academic All-American stands with a pair of Cowboy tennis standouts to achieve the honor. Oleksandr Nedovyesov (2010) and Frantisek Krepelka (2001, 2002) also garnered the distinction.

The New Zeland native came to Oklahoma State entering his junior year pursuing a degree in finance and will finish his graduate program this summer. Becroft joins the CSC Academic All-American Third Team, having been on both the first and second teams the past two years.

On the court, Becroft leaves OSU with All-America status in doubles, All-Big 12 first-team distinctions in singles (2025) and doubles (2024), All-Big 12 second-team honors in singles in 2024 and was named the 2024 ITA Central Region Most Improved Player. He was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2023.

For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State men’s tennis, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyTennis on Instagram and X.

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