College athletics during the NIL era has created infinite opportunities for athletes to monetize their Name, Image, and Likeness. We’ve seen examples of athletes using their hair, love for food, and addiction to video games to generate revenue for personal use and civic engagement. College athletes across all NCAA Divisions and Conferences have embraced this new time and MOGL has been integral in helping educate athletes on how to build their brand, while also staying safe and compliant to NCAA, state, and federal rules.

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MOGL also continues to prioritize athletes in the Division II and Division III athletics. Just last month, MOGL made history by helping facilitate the first department wide deal in Division II history.

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We loved being trailblazers and contributing members to the history of NIL. So we decided to do it again. This time in Memphis, TN.

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MOGL spent time at Rhodes College to educate student-athletes, coaches, and staff on how to leverage all of MOGL’s offerings. We started the day learning with coaches and addressing questions related to recruitment, alumni relations, and compliance. We then interviewed AD Jim Duncan who emphatically and eloquently expressed why MOGL was the only choice for a university solution. Finally, we spent ample time with athletes during 1:1 conversations, group podcasts, and an all-athlete meeting. During the all-athlete meeting, we announced that Rhodes College became the first NCAA DIII athletics program to facilitate an all athlete NIL deal alongside brand partner Clean Energy.

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Rhodes left us with thoughts and takeaways that will undoubtedly shape the future of NIL.

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“NIL is not for DIII.” Not only is this a misconception, but it’s also simply not true. NIL was established to provide ALL athletes the freedom to earn compensation from their Name, Image, and Likeness – inclusive of Division affiliation. Brand deals come in all shapes and sizes that do not discriminate against athletes from a specific conference. Division III athletes are well positioned and extremely prepared to own their NIL for commercial and non-commercial use.

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Focus on career readiness. Rhodes athletes were particularly interested in learning more about how NIL can be leveraged to secure internships, full-time employment, and graduate/professional school admission. This is well aligned with growing conversation across the college athletics industry and supported by MOGL’s education programming. Social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, are useful to secure brand deals. However, all athletes should also create and utilize career focused platforms, such as LinkedIn, to build their brand, connect with fans and alumni, and take the next step in their career journey.

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Leadership matters. Athletic directors and coaches who adopt and prioritize NIL education send a clear message to their athletes and community stakeholders that NIL matters. Many departments were hesitant, and often reluctant, to engage with NIL providers over the last two years. Indecision is a choice. Leaders who choose to welcome NIL education as part of their holistic student-athlete development programming will best prepare athletes for life after competition. Rhodes is led by Jim, Kim, and a leadership team of coaches and administrators who truly believe in the power of education. NIL is another layer of education that only adds value to student development, alumni relations, and community engagement.  

Special thanks to Kim and JB for organizing a great trip to Rhodes! Your campus looks like Hogwarts so we will definitely be back in the warmer months to capture more flicks around campus.

Roll Lynx Roll!

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If you are one of our university partners and are interested in having MOGL visit your campus, reach out to our Director of Athlete Education, Tim Bryson, at tim.bryson@getmogl.com.

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