Aggies enjoy benefits of NIL process
Focused on winning, players savor starting a business or signing deals
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M senior receiver Hezekiah Jones was ahead of the curve in becoming a businessman while still a college athlete.
“I know it’s been a big topic of discussion for years,” Jones said of new NCAA guidelines allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL) as of this summer. “It’s amazing to get that accomplished.”
Jones missed the 2019 season because of injury and in the process learned to sew and design pants to pass the time. He finetuned his new skill last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year hopes to begin selling his pants to a larger audience thanks to NIL.
“This summer I’ve been getting my business affairs right, and I’ve filed for my LLC,” Jones said of the anacronym for Limited Liability Company. “Everything is in the works. I’m already selling jeans, and in terms of more apparel, it’s coming soon.”
Jones also realizes the more he showcases his talents on the football field with plenty of catches, the
more attention his other hand-based hobby will receive.
“This is another opportunity for us to show our personality,” Jones said of the NCAA’s updated NIL approach, “and actually profit from it.”
Jones, a former Stafford High standout, added that he prioritized responsibilities this summer, and at the top of the list is No. 6 A&M’s season opener in less than two weeks (Sept. 4) against Kent State at Kyle Field.
Jimbo Fisher cranked up his fourth camp at A&M on Aug. 6, and the no-nonsense coach said his players have absolutely zeroed in on the primary task at hand — trying to win the Aggies’ first SEC title.
“It hasn’t been a distraction,” Fisher said of a handful of his players to date taking advantage of NIL to make extra money this summer. “Some of the guys are having really great success with it, from what I understand — making a lot of money and (having) a lot of opportunities. That’s what it’s about, and I’m very happy for them.
“They haven’t let it be a distraction to the team at all, and have kept everything separate as far as when it’s time to work and do their things — they’re all doing what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s been very good for us.”
Isaiah Spiller of Klein Collins, who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards the past two seasons, is among the more marketable players on the team, and the genial junior with a megawatt smile has taken advantage on multiple fronts on NIL. Still, Spiller said he knows his off-field success in many ways comes down to his on-field production, and he added that he’s all about football this season.
“I’m keeping the main thing the main thing,” Spiller said. “Football is still the primary thing in my life — the first thing (in line). NIL is just a bonus for me. Thank God that he’s blessed me with that opportunity, and I’m going to keep moving forward.”
Spiller, safety Demani Richardson and offensive tackle Kenyon Green are three Aggies so far, as well, who’ve received $10,000 each through a real-estate company for extended interviews with TexAgs.com in the fan website’s studios across George Bush Drive from the A&M campus.
Spiller also has signed a deal with chicken fingers connoisseur Raising Cane’s, which has multiple locations in Bryan-College Station and across the state. Meantime fellow running back and rising star Devon Achane said he’s choosing carefully when deciding whom to represent.
“The (NCAA) should have done this is a long time ago,” Achane said with a grin. “I’ve been approached, but I haven’t made any big decisions yet. Me and my family are just talking over a lot of stuff right now. This has made college football a lot more fun, and everybody is taking (the opportunity) a little more serious now.”
Alabama coach Nick Saban said last month that new Crimson Tide starting quarterback Bryce Young already had made close to $1 million off NIL deals. Also, incoming Tennessee State basketball player Hercy Miller — rapper and producer Master P’s son — has signed a $2 million deal with Web Apps America, a software company, and LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has inked multiple bigmoney endorsements based on her more than five million followers on social media.
To no one’s surprise, college football grabbed nearly 80 percent of the NIL market share over its first month of existence, according to marketing company Opendorse, followed by men’s basketball at nearly 10 percent and women’s volleyball at 5.5 percent.
“The NCAA did a great thing by giving us the opportunity to make money off our (name),” A&M tight end Jalen Wydermyer of Dickinson said. “This was a long time in coming, and a lot of great players around the country deserve it.”