In this episode of NIL Spotlight, Tom Burnett shares his journey through college athletics, the seismic shifts brought by NIL, and practical advice for student athletes and families navigating this complex landscape. Discover how NIL and revenue sharing are transforming recruiting, legal considerations, and the importance of financial literacy.

Timestamps

00:00 The Journey into College Athletics

03:03 The Impact of NIL on College Sports

05:59 Navigating State-Specific Laws and Regulations

08:39 The Role of Agents in NIL

11:20 Recruiting in the Age of NIL

14:21 Financial Literacy for Student Athletes

16:58 The Future of College Athletics

19:40 Final Thoughts and Resources for Families

About Tom Burnett-
Tom Burnett is a veteran collegiate athletics leader and former Southland Conference commissioner, where he served for nearly two decades as the league’s longest-tenured leader. He now continues to support the conference as a senior consultant, bringing more than 30 years of experience in athletic administration. Throughout his career, he has played key roles on numerous NCAA committees, including serving as chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee overseeing March Madness. Burnett is widely recognized for expanding media exposure, strengthening conference operations, and leaving a lasting impact on college athletics at both the conference and national levels.

Resources-

Tom Burnett's Website - https://www.tomburnett.com

NIL for Texas Parents Book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0XXXXXX

Second Book by Tom Burnett - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0XXXXXX

Website - https://www.tomburnett.com

Follow Brian Davidson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrdavidson/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting a student-athlete, understanding branding and strategy early can make a major difference in long-term success. Make sure to get started for free at nilgameplan.com

In this episode, Chris Krause, founder of NCSA College Recruiting and former Vanderbilt football player, shares how he’s helped reshape the path for student-athletes pursuing college opportunities. He breaks down recruiting, NIL, social media, leadership, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing family, realism, and responsible decision-making. Chris also reminds athletes that choosing a school isn’t just a four-year decision, but a forty-year one.

Key Takeaways
-Recruiting is a family decision and requires honest, realistic conversations
-Understanding a coach’s role and priorities is critical in the recruiting process
-Social media can significantly impact opportunities, positively or negatively
-NIL and college athletics are evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities and risks
-Leadership and entrepreneurship skills developed through sports have lifelong value
-Choosing a college is a long-term life decision, not just a short-term commitment

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction to Chris Krause and NCSA
01:29 The Family Dynamic in Recruiting
05:16 Understanding the Role of Coaches
08:51 Common Mistakes in Recruiting
10:30 Evolution of College Athletics and NIL
13:19 The Impact of Social Media on Athletes
19:04 Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Sports
24:26 Legacy and Leadership Development

About the Guest
Chris Krause is the founder of NCSA College Recruiting and a former Vanderbilt University football player. He built NCSA into a leading platform connecting student-athletes with college programs, helping hundreds of thousands navigate the recruiting process and unlock opportunities through sports.

Resources & Links
NCSA College Recruiting: https://www.ncsasports.org/
Athletes Wanted (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Athletes-Wanted-How-Get-College/dp/...
Built to Win (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Built-Win-Leadership-Legacy-Transformation/dp/...
Chris Krause Leadership Symposium: https://vanderbilt.edu/leadership-symposium

Follow Chris
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskrause/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriskrause
Website: https://chriskrause.com/

Follow Brian Davidson
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrdavidson/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting a student-athlete, understanding branding and strategy early can make a major difference in long-term success. Make sure to get started for free at nilgameplan.com

In this episode, Rachel Maeng, a former athlete turned NIL strategist, breaks down how student-athletes can build sustainable personal brands and navigate the evolving NIL landscape. She shares insights on making smarter recruiting decisions, leveraging social media, and creating long-term value in college athletics. Rachel also explores how NIL is changing opportunities across sports and what the future holds for athletes in this new era.

• Your personal brand is a long-term business asset, not just a social media presence
• Athletes should start building their brand and online presence early
• NIL opportunities vary widely across sports, with growing potential for women and non-revenue athletes
• The transfer portal adds complexity to decision-making and requires strategic planning
• Schools and collectives are evolving rapidly, creating both opportunities and risks

00:00 Introduction to Rachel Maeng and her NIL expertise
01:10 Rachel’s recruiting journey and athletic background
01:56 Transition from athlete to NIL strategist
03:07 Evolution of NIL rules and technology
04:21 The importance of personal branding
06:07 Should athletes form an LLC?
06:45 Common social media mistakes
10:39 Opportunities for women and Olympic sports
13:37 NIL in recruiting conversations
15:57 Transfer portal and athlete decision-making
19:05 Future trends in NIL and college athletics
22:28 Risks of transferring and academic planning
26:39 Building brand ecosystems for athletes

Rachel Maeng is a former athlete and NIL strategist who helps student-athletes build personal brands, navigate NIL opportunities, and make strategic decisions in college athletics.

Rachel Maeng on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-meng
Rachel Maeng on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_maeng/
Brian Davidson on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrdavidson/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting a student-athlete, understanding branding and strategy early can make a major difference in long-term success. Make sure to get started for free at nilgameplan.com

• NIL has shifted recruiting from relationship-driven to more transactional dynamics
• Misinformation is one of the biggest challenges in the NIL space
• Schools are building in-house NIL programs to better support athletes
• Personal branding is now essential, starting as early as high school
• Non-revenue sports may see new opportunities through NIL growth

00:00 Introduction to NIL and Brendan Hill
03:10 How recruiting has evolved in the NIL era
06:14 Early NIL challenges and building trust
09:07 Inside San Diego State’s NIL approach
12:12 Supporting athletes day-to-day
16:00 Common misconceptions about NIL
18:44 Advice for high school athletes
21:57 The future of NIL and college sports

Brendan Hill is the Assistant Athletic Director at San Diego State University, where he focuses on NIL strategy, student-athlete development, and navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics.

“Misinformation is a major hurdle in NIL.”
“Build your personal brand early.”
“We had to build a team of experts to navigate NIL.”

NIL Gameplan: https://nilgameplan.com
Brendan Hill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendenhill/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting someone who is, check out NIL Gameplan.

Just visit NILGameplan.com to get started for free.

In this episode, professional lacrosse player and former Notre Dame standout Kasey Choma shares how being a Division I athlete shaped her confidence, career path, and identity beyond sports. She highlights the transition out of athletics, the power of relationships and networking, and how athletes can translate key skills into the workplace, while also touching on NIL’s growing impact beyond traditional sports.