In the era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), student-athletes aren’t just excelling in their sports—they’re proving to be innovative entrepreneurs as well. From launching clothing brands to publishing books, these athletes are leveraging their platforms to build businesses and sell products that extend beyond their playing careers. While NIL deals often bring to mind brand sponsorships and social media partnerships, some athletes are taking it a step further—creating and selling something of their own. Here’s a look at three student-athletes who turned their NIL opportunities into successful business ventures.
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Athlete: Trey Stewart
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School(s): BYU
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Sport: Men’s Basketball
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Business Created: Default Happiness
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Industry: Apparel
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Learn More: Default Happiness: How BYU freshman guard Trey Stewart is blazing trails by building a business – Deseret News
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Athlete: Emily Cole
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School(s): Duke
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Sport: Women’s Track and Field
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Product Created: The Players’ Plate
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Industry: Book Publishing
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Learn More: Writing Books to Viral Videos: Emily Cole Gets Creative with NIL – Opendorse
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Athlete: Hendon Hooker
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School(s): Tennessee
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Sport: Football
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Business Created: The ABCs of Scripture for Athletes
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Industry: Book Publishing
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Learn More: The story behind Tennessee Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker’s faith-based children’s book – Daily News Journal
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NIL is opening doors for student-athletes to become entrepreneurs, and we know these three aren’t the only ones! If you know a student-athlete who has used NIL to create and sell their own product or launch a business, please let us know. Reach out to us at here and let us know who we should add!
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