Michigan Running Back’s Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

When Justice Haynes traded crimson for maize and blue, Michigan fans expected game-changing runs. What they didn’t expect? A business move just as explosive.

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Haynes, the former Alabama running back and one of the top transfers of 2025, has inked a unique NIL deal with Loom Juices, not just as a brand ambassador, but as an equity stakeholder. That’s right: the Wolverines’ rising star now owns part of the brand.

“This partnership exemplifies how athletes can leverage their platforms for meaningful, long-term brand engagements,” said Haynes’ agent, Dan Everett.

In a landscape flooded with apparel deals and one-off endorsements, Haynes’ agreement stands out. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, the deal positions the 5-foot-11, 205-pound back not only as a face of Loom’s health-focused mission, but as a strategic partner. For Loom, which targets a younger, wellness-conscious demographic, Haynes is the ideal match.

The move reflects a growing NIL trend: equity over appearance. Instead of cashing short-term checks, Haynes is playing the long game, something fans and athletes alike should take note of.

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It’s a bold step for the sophomore, who tallied 715 total yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons at Alabama. After entering the portal this winter, Haynes chose Michigan over South Carolina and Ole Miss, eager for a bigger stage and a larger role. He now enters a wide-open RB competition for a team hungry to rebound from a disappointing 10-3 finish in 2024.

With Haynes bringing both his downhill running style and entrepreneurial mindset to Ann Arbor, it’s clear: this isn’t just about football anymore.

This NIL deal isn’t just a contract. It’s a statement about athlete empowerment, brand strategy, and the evolving landscape of college sports.

If Haynes breaks out in the Big Ten like many expect, Loom Juices won’t just have a new face. They’ll have a stake in a star.

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Related: Former Kentucky Great Has Words About NIL: “I’m Glad I Didn’t Play in That Era”

Related: Bill Belichick Breaks Silence on NIL Chaos

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

• Miami baseball has a 12-11 series lead over Louisville.
• The Louisville Cardinals are 37-10 all-time in postseason home game, advancing to five straight super regional series between 2013 and 2017 and again in 2019. They won in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019.
• The Miami Hurricanes have made the College World Series 25 times with four national championships. Most recently, they made back-to-back trips in 2015 and 2016.

Louisville baseball and Miami are set for Game 1 of their NCAA Tournament super regional series today at Jim Patterson Stadium.

As we head into a new athletics year under the NIL era, a new bill has been signed into law in the state of Texas that could benefit Texas A&M and other universities in the state moving forward.

As announced on Thursday afternoon, Governor Greg Abbott signed a new NIL law that will allow athletes over 17 in the state to receive NIL contracts directly from a university. This bill also aligns with the House settlement that is yet to be approved. For Texas A&M and other in-state universities, it will allow them to avoid any potential lawsuits or compliance issues and compete for recruits in some ways others may not be able to just yet.

The implementation of the bill was first reported by KBTX senior sports writer Travis L. Brown via X:

Let’s cut straight to the facts: there is no denying the influence of NIL on all collegiate athletics and it continues to grow by the minute. The transfer portal has reached historic numbers since the decision was made to introduce financial gain for players for their name, image and likeness (NIL).

That was just the beginning of something way bigger than anyone ever thought could happen in the sport. Some college athletes, like UCLA quarterback Nico Lamaleava, are making millions of dollars before they even reach the National Football League, which has always been the goal of most athletes, historically speaking.

Now, what is stopping players from just managing their finances in college and then retiring? Is that going to cause a shortage of athletes in the NFL? Or, will the professional football league continue to blossom? That is still to be determined.

For now, the House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit remains in full swing, with seemingly no end in sight just yet. The proposed, and now imposed, bill in the state of Texas protects universities in the state in more ways than one, while also providing a slight edge in recruiting as well.

The world of NIL and the transfer portal is something that will change rapidly and often. As new bills are signed or rejected, there seems to be some major miscommunications between the House and the NCAA that could be detrimental for all parties if not solved.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas governor signs NIL bill integral to universities in the state

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The East Carolina baseball team experienced an up and down season in 2025. After a bit of a slow start, the Pirates went on a run to make the NCAA Tournament.

They were able to take down SEC foe Florida twice in postseason play but were unable to get past No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina in the regional finals. The year came to an end at 35-27.

The Pirates began the season by dropping six of their first eight contests. They then rebounded to get to 20-10 before losing six straight matchups to put postseason hopes in danger.

The regular season ended with a 29-25 overall record. That likely meant being on the outside looking in come NCAA Tournament time. A four-game run in the AAC Championship, however, provided new life.

The Pirates won the conference tournament championship. It allowed ECU to slide into the Conway Regional as a three-seed. The squad flexed its muscles against Florida but eventually fell 1-0 in an elimination game to Coastal Carolina.

Now, the task for head coach Cliff Godwin is keeping the core of his roster together. He’s already finding that difficult.

P4 programs are trying to poach East Carolina baseball players.

Our system is so BROKEN! We have coaches at P4 schools texting our players directly who are not in portal! And we have proof!

— Cliff Godwin (@cgodwin23) June 5, 2025

It took just days after season’s end for larger schools to begin reaching out to ECU players directly, according to Godwin. He’s keeping the receipts.

East Carolina, like most mid-majors, is in a difficult position. The Pirates have been one of the most successful programs in all of college baseball over the last quarter-century. Since 1999, they’ve posted 16 40-win seasons, including a 51-13 campaign in 2004.

In the past, the team was able to build on success year after year. Now, they find themselves in somewhat of an annual rebuild.

The transfer portal has been a major hit to G5 schools across all sports. NIL has only magnified the disadvantage. Larger programs can easily poach the best players with lucrative cash offers.

East Carolina’s baseball team was impacted last year after star infielder Alek Makarewicz bolted for NC State. Godwin then dealt with tampering issues during his team’s postseason appearance.

“We threw two pitchers on Monday that both knew they were leaving,” he said after a season-ending loss to Evansville. “I didn’t know they were leaving. I would’ve thrown position players. The guy that started and the guy that gave up the three-run homer went to the portal (two days after the season ended). They knew they were leaving.”

The Pirates lost some talent in the portal last year. Cliff Godwin hinted at more attrition earlier this year while questioning his players’ NIL motivations.

Those feelings seem to have changed following the Pirates’ late run. The head coach has made it his goal to keep the roster together.

“We’ll make some changes in some areas, for sure, and we’ll get better. We are going to keep this core group together, and man, they got a lot of experience together…

“I’m going to have to have some stay conversations. I’m sure there are people DMing them right now trying to buy them away… We’re going to do everything we can to keep them.”

-Cliff Godwin

Godwin confirmed those suspicions on Thursday. If the tampering continues, he might just expose his rivals!