NIL: #LEVERAGE Campaign

[Driver 8]

Texas Athletics have begun a NIL media blitz (saw it on Twitter so I'm sure it is hitting all the social channels)

It is the LEVERAGE Program and it looks like all the sports are pimping it now in a coordinated messaging campaign, a few examples below from Twitter this afternoon

Something just changed in a major way for college athletics - not sure how it plays out but this is a new world - could be good for big "brand" names like Texas ...? Our AD sure seems to be all in on it

 

[Driver 8]

 

[Driver 8]

 

[Horn6721]

So athletes can use Texas in their ads/endorsements?

 

[Driver 8]

So athletes can use Texas in their ads/endorsements?

I haven't seen the terms but it is safe to assume there will be very strict guidelines on how a player may use UT branding

Found this on texassports.com:

LEVERAGE, which is part of the new 4EVER TEXAS program, is composed of four main areas of focus: Personal Branding & Brand Management, Business Formation & Entrepreneurship, Opportunity Management and Financial Literacy.

In the ever-evolving college sports landscape, student-athletes are more interested than ever in advancing their personal brand and setting themselves up for a successful future. With unmatched brand identity and unrivaled campus resources, Texas Athletics is well-equipped to offer its student-athletes that opportunity. It is uniquely located in one of the nation's top-ranked cities to live and work. A hotbed for technology and startups, student-athletes at UT have limitless access to business opportunities, just by being part of the Austin, Texas community.

With a strong emphasis on social media, Texas Athletics has cultivated one of the most powerful presences in college athletics. The Longhorns lead all of collegiate athletics in Twitter interactions and have one of the top Facebook followings with an audience of over 1.5 million. Texas has experienced extreme growth on Instagram since 2018, with more than 160,000 new followers for a 167% increase. The Texas Football Instagram has grown by nearly 200,000 followers during that same span, a 155% increase.

"The athletes we're recruiting have had their hands on these social platforms almost their whole lives," Texas Women's Swimming & Diving head coachCarol Capitanisaid. "LEVERAGE provides an opportunity for them to learn and advance their personal brands in a way that's true to them, while building off the social presence they've already cultivated. There is no athletic department better positioned to handle NIL needs than Texas, and I'm grateful for all the first-class resources that our student-athletes have available to them."

With a footprint that includes five of the nation's 15 largest cities, Longhorn student-athletes are exposed to more local and national media coverage than any other athletes in the country. The presence of Longhorn Network, the only national television network with dedicated 24/7 coverage to a single university, sets UT apart from all of its counterparts.

The powerful UT alumni network of more than 500,000 members around the world provides extraordinary opportunity for Longhorn student-athletes to connect with business leaders and influential community members.

"The University of Texas is unmatched across the country in terms of combining a passionate fanbase, top-notch academics, elite competition and providing resources to student-athletes in their pursuit of success," Texas Track & Field head coach Edrick Floreal said. "Now, with LEVERAGE, we are taking the next step in supporting our student-athletes and preparing them for success outside of athletics. There is no better place for a student-athlete to build themselves, both on and off the track, than at UT."

As part of the 4EVER TEXAS program, LEVERAGE will serve as an innovative resource to help prepare student-athletes for lifelong success. The LEVERAGE program will provide specific curriculum around areas of financial literacy such as, wealth management, assessing financial risks, taxes, and making business decisions.

 

[Driver 8]

Apparently this program was announced last August

 

[Horn6721]

It talks about the athlete setting themselves up for a successful future through their NIL agreements and all the resources offered by Texas.
Howdy have things changed.
After the vast majority of athletes time has ended what will their NIL be worth?