Two Texas A&M players paid for exclusive interviews

A real estate company is paying a pair of Texas A&M football players $10,000 each for exclusive interviews at an event hosted by a fan website.

The site, TexAgs.com, announced Friday it was “hosting an NIL event sponsored by GreenPrint Real Estate Group” featuring running back Isaiah Spiller and safety Demani Richardson and promoting exclusive interviews.

The event comes just two weeks after a new state law and NCAA guidelines went into effect that allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness (NIL).

Typically, interviews with college athletes are arranged through a school’s sports information department and are unpaid. News organizations like the Houston Chronicle don’t pay for interviews or access.

“This took a lot of work in order to make sure everything was on the up-and-up and by the book in terms of the new NIL rules and this uncharted territory, but it was worth it to see how excited the guys were for the opportunity,” TexAgs co-owner and executive editor Billy Liucci posted on TexAgs. “I also think everyone wins here, from the content to the student athletes and, of course, for you the subscribers.”

TexAgs, which is not affiliated with A&M, said it reaches more than 650,000 viewers monthly.

GreenPrint describes itself on its website as “one of Brazos Valley’s leading real estate brokerage firms, concentrating on buyer and seller representation, home listing marketing, and management of residential and commercial properties … established on Christian principles, conservative values, and conscientious practices.”