With the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, universities are looking to support their student athletes as they build their brands. South Carolina State is the most recent university to create a NIL platform for its athletes.
On April 30th, the university introduced the new platform to their student athletes in collaboration with INFLCR & Local Exchange. INFLCR is a top choice for athlete brand-building and managing business deals under the NIL rules. The app is used by top colleges and pro sports teams helping student-athletes, coaches, and staff understand NIL rules safely and correctly while offering great content for athletes to share on social media. INFLCR also has a special feature called the INFLCR Local Exchange that is tailored to each school and helps connect businesses or people who want to work with athletes on NIL deals.
“We’re excited to provide the technology for SC State Bulldog student-athletes to grow their NIL business and maximize their wallet share while doing it,” NFLCR founder Jim Cavale said. With the SC State Bulldogs Exchange, the Bulldogs and AD Dr. Nathan Cochran are staying ahead of the curve as NIL continues to evolve.” (Scsuathletics.com)
The South Carolina State Bulldogs Exchange NIL program will be free for all participating and active athletes on campus. The university has created an online database for the athletes to connect and network with different businesses. Companies and businesses will be allowed to contact athletes or their reps to talk about potential NIL deals as long as they follow the rules and guidelines South Carolina State has in place. Additionally, the platform will teach student-athletes about NIL matters and monitor their social media activity and progress.
South Carolina State Vice President of Athletics Dr. Nathan Cochran has a positive mindset towards the latest addition on campus.
“The new S.C. State Bulldogs Exchange will greatly enhance and streamline the process of connecting businesses with student-athletes in Orangeburg and the surrounding area,” Cochran said. We are excited to continue to provide our student-athletes with excellent resources to maximize their NIL opportunities and build their brand while representing South Carolina State’s growing national brand.” (Scsuathletics.com)
A NIL program like this could benefit HBCUs by attracting talented athletes who may have otherwise chosen larger, wealthier institutions, specifically predominately white institutions.
