Recapping the First Annual NIL Summit

To celebrate and recognize the first year of NIL, the first annual NIL Summit was held this weekend at the college football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The summit was held and sponsored by the company INFLCR and the winners were determined by a committee that included Saquan Barkley, Nicole Auerbach, and Darren Rovell. 

In addition to celebrating the first year of college athletes profiting from their name, image, and likeness, the summit held many speakers that spoke about how these athletes can continue to utilize NIL now and in the future.

Some notable speakers that spoke at the summit included Jerome Bettis, a former NFL player and entrepreneur, Leonard Armato, the CEO of Management Plus Enterprises, and Jason Ranne, the COO of Wasserman. Current college athletes such as Hunter Dickinson and Geo Baker were able to learn from these professionals throughout the summit on what it takes to maximize their capabilities with NIL. 

Although we have seen NIL do great things throughout the last year it is important to educate collegiate athletes throughout the country about its benefits and consequences. By having these business professionals through the sport industry come in and speak, the NIL summit was able to accomplish that. 

The summit also handed out awards recognizing some of the best NIL efforts throughout the latest year. 

Chase Griffin, a quarterback from UCLA, took home the Male Athlete of the Year award for his efforts with NIL. Griffin was able to use NIL to not only benefit himself but many others throughout his community. 

Sedona Price took home the Female Athlete of the Year award. She has always been an advocate for NIL and has landed many meaningful deals such as her partnership with the Riff Energy Drink. 

Some other notable awards included the Athlete Advocate of the Year award which went to Megan Skaggs from the University of Florida for her ability to benefit her community and others through her use of NIL. 

The Best Individual NIL Campaign went to the Morgan and Morgan law firm for their efforts partnering with college athletes. 

Finally, the Best Institutional Program award went to Boise State for their efforts in making sure their athletes best utilized NIL while also making sure they were educated on everything they were doing throughout the process.  

The first year of NIL was very exciting and the NIL Summit was a great way to recap it all!

To learn more about the First Annual NIL Summit, check out the CleanKonnect NIL Certification Course.