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- 💥Kentucky's Bold NIL Investment, Your Key to Landing Deals (Follow Up)
💥Kentucky's Bold NIL Investment, Your Key to Landing Deals (Follow Up)
Hey Playmakers —
Kentucky just made waves in the NIL world. Head coach Mark Pope claimed the school has poured nearly $200 million into its basketball roster via NIL. While the real number is closer to $20 million, the message is loud and clear:
NIL isn’t optional anymore—it’s a competitive advantage.
From elite recruiting to high-dollar deals, the schools dominating this new era are the ones building serious NIL infrastructure. And if you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
That’s why I created NIL Playbook Premium—so athletes and families can actually capitalize on the headlines they are reading about.
👉 Upgrade today and unlock:
💼 Weekly NIL deal drops and leads
🧠 Branding templates and compliance tools
🔑 Private community access
💰 Strategies that actually help you land the bag
For just $9.99/month, you’ll get insider insights that help you play the NIL game to win.
Don’t wait until July when the NCAA settlement flips everything—get ahead now.
Let’s build something real.
— Justin Thompson
NIL Specialist
Breaking News
Kentucky's Bold NIL Investment
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope recently made headlines with a bold claim that the university has invested nearly $200 million into its basketball roster through NIL deals. While the actual 2025-26 roster's NIL value is reported to exceed $20 million, Pope’s exaggerated statement underscores the program’s commitment to excellence. Emphasizing Kentucky’s status as a flagship program, Pope stated the school's ambition to lead in every aspect—including recruiting, scheduling, media attention, uniforms, and player compensation. As he enters his second year, Pope expressed gratitude for the strong support from university leadership and fans, and reiterated his determination to make Kentucky the best in college basketball during this new NIL era . (More)
Takeaway for Athletes & Families: Kentucky's aggressive NIL strategy highlights the increasing importance of NIL in college athletics. Athletes and their families should consider a program's NIL infrastructure and support when making decisions, as it can significantly impact an athlete's financial and professional development.
Legal Reforms: The Future of NIL and Athlete Compensation
Innovative proposals are emerging to address the challenges of NIL compensation and the chaotic athlete transfer processes. A pending federal ruling on a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement involving the NCAA and major conferences could open the door for schools to share revenue directly with athletes as early as July 1. Potential reforms include formal incentive-based athlete contracts that promote performance and reduce transfers. Some schools are considering implementing buyout clauses to discourage short-term transfers following upfront NIL payments. Legal action has already begun in cases such as Arkansas quarterback Madden Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA. Another debated idea is recognizing athletes as employees, which would mandate wages and benefits, though legal and political hurdles complicate implementation. (More)
Takeaway for Athletes & Families: The evolving legal landscape may soon offer athletes more structured and potentially lucrative opportunities. Staying informed about these changes is crucial for making strategic decisions regarding college commitments and understanding the implications of NIL agreements.
Transfer Portal Trends: Strategic Moves and Opportunities
The NCAA Transfer Portal was as active as ever this offseason with over 4,000 entries, 2,400 of those having since committed elsewhere, over the pair of windows in the winter and spring. ESPN previewed the next season in college football in 2025 with an article including ten separate editions of different Top 10s ahead of Week 0. That included one by Max Olson of the Top 10 transfers to watch this season. Each of the first four are quarterbacks, including one who was also on this list for consideration for The Heisman Trophy. There’s then a trio of wide receivers, an offensive tackle, a linebacker, and a tight end among the 10 on the list. (More)
Takeaway for Athletes & Families: The transfer portal offers athletes a chance to find better fits and opportunities. However, it's essential to approach transfers strategically, considering both athletic and academic implications, and understanding how NIL opportunities may vary between programs.
NIL News Resources
For more detailed information and resources on NIL and transfer portal developments, consider exploring the following:
Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the ever-changing world of college athletics.
Weekly Playbook
The Fortune’s in the Follow-Up — Even for Athletes
If you're not following up with brands, you're leaving money and momentum on the table. Most deals happen between the 5th and 12th interaction. Yet most people quit after just one or two.
In the world of NIL and personal branding, you’re not just selling products—you’re selling YOU. That means every DM, every email, every story post, every newsletter… is a touchpoint that builds toward a conversion—whether that’s a brand deal, a merch sale, a clinic sign-up, or a subscriber.
🧠 STRATEGY: Build a "Value Ladder" with Touchpoints
Use a value ladder to gradually warm up your audience. Think of it like this:
Free, quick value (low risk):
IG Reel with game-day prep tips
TikTok behind-the-scenes from practice
Polls or Q&As in your Stories
Mid-level commitment:
Join your newsletter or text list
Download a free training PDF or nutrition plan
RSVP to your free Zoom Q&A
High-level commitment:
Buy your merch
Sign up for a 1:1 training session
Book you for a speaking gig or brand deal
Each stage is a step closer to revenue AND loyalty.
📈 ACTION STEP: Set Up a Weekly “Check-In” Story Series
Pick one day a week and post a recurring IG Story series. Example:
“Mindset Mondays”
Short clips of your training mindset
A motivational quote
A CTA: “Want my full 7-day mindset plan? DM ‘FOCUS’ and I’ll send it to you.”
Why this works:
It builds consistency and expectation
Encourages engagement (DMs = relationship fuel under NIL rules)
Grows your list while giving value first.
✅ NIL-COMPLIANT TIP OF THE WEEK
Avoid pay-for-play perception.
Any brand or fan who’s paying for access or perks should be paying for value, not performance. That’s why branded downloads, exclusive content, and merch are great plays—you’re exchanging value, not crossing NCAA lines.
🚀 This Weeks Play:
If you’re not showing up every week, someone else is. Don’t let your future brand equity go cold. The best athletes aren’t just fast on the field—they’re consistent in their marketing too.
Next week’s premium edition: “How to Build a Lead Magnet That Doesn’t Suck.”
Want that? UPGRADE NOW and start getting real actionable tips, templates, and active NIL deals sent straight to your inbox once a week.
Justin Thompson
NIL Specialist
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Trending
Charles Barkley Comments on NIL
“I’ve given more money to Auburn, legal or illegal, than any athlete in the history of school. And the notion that I’m going to come up with a couple million dollars every year so that we can be good at basketball and football — that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
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