Athletics at the collegiate level have long been the focus of many sports fans, whether dads gathering on Saturdays with drinks in hand or rabid college sophomores with three exams the next Monday. The exposure that college athletes have received culminated with “NIL” in 2021, a method in which college athletes can profit off of their uber-famous names.

Standing for “Name, Image, and Likeness,” NIL has been a hot topic ever since its initiation. Before 2021, collegiate players received scholarship money but could never turn their developed fame into profit. Yet in NCAA vs. Alston, the Court ultimately ruled that college athletes could indeed receive payments as a result of their name, image, and likeness (hence, NIL). On the surface this decision seemed extremely beneficial. Immediately following such success, however, were stirred complications and debates surrounding the influence and necessity of NIL deals.

Surprisingly, NIL is not everywhere in the country. For instance, California and Colorado feature the perks, but New York and Washington do not. From this angle, that occurrence makes some sense. The former states contain premier college talent with the likes of Caleb Williams and Travis Hunter, whereas the latter do not as much. The discussion goes beyond which state has which player, though. Regarding states with NIL deals, they have an unfair advantage in the recruitment process for the exact reason that they can provide copious amounts of money for prospective players. In addition, NIL can be blinding. A focus on money and fame from collegiate athletes very easily cause some to lose track of their academics and degree aspirations. With a furious race towards endorsement, athletes may be unable to balance athletics and academics, which evidently leads to larger issues.

Consider a nuanced situation with Angel Reese, a women’s basketball phenom coming off an NCAA championship run with LSU last April. Reese is undeniably a powerhouse on the court. Her success with basketball translated to the immense cash flow she experienced soon after her big win. But during a clash with Kent State on November 14, Reese was removed from the lineup during halftime. Answers were unclear for a while, with her coach Kim Mukley unwilling to provide specific answers other than a “coach’s decision.” Speculators turned to the internet and spewed various reasons, a predominant one being that Reese could not keep up with her grades due to focus on her NIL money. This claim was furthered by a teammate’s mother, who on Instagram, bashed Reese for her low GPA. Yet, quick to the scene were fact checkers that confirmed NIL has nothing in print that ties it to academic eligibility. Coach Mukley later assured the press that Reese in fact was not suspended for NIL-academic performance issues, but this circumstance revealed something beyond its surface coverage. That is, NIL and the public’s perception of such money led them to focus on whether NIL deals are beneficial or hurtful. Following the confusing dilemma with LSU, the media continued to debate whether NIL money is necessary for certain athletes and if a high cashflow is truly what college students need. Some on social media, however, argued that NIL is independent of the situation — a “locker room” issue could not solely be linked to NIL money.

NIL is undoubtably advantageous in the right scenarios, allowing college athletes to capitalize on their pronounced fame and obtain rightful benefits to their household success. Should players be backing down when offered millions because of their names? I think not, but I believe otherwise when such money and incentives are abused and lead to issues on-field and court.

Seton Hall Prep produces numerous student-athletes, sending them to Division I powerhouses or Ivy League institutions, that have already welcomed or may soon welcome the extra money. As a high school that prides itself on its athletic prowess in New Jersey, The Prep needs to keep NIL discussions in its back pocket, for they may have great impacts on their successful reputation at the next level. NIL money will likely stay for a long while, and even increase in payload, but it is a serious matter of which athletic Prep graduates and any other collegiate player should always be mindful.