Six Gators attended the inaugural NIL Summit hosted by INFLCR - Elise Bauer (left), Derek Wingo, Kamari Wilson, Megan Skaggs, Leah Clapper and Trinity Thomas.
NIL Summit Helps Gators Learn to Leverage Their Influence
Friday, June 17, 2022 | General, Football, Gymnastics, Women's Swimming & Diving
The University of Florida sent six Gators to the inaugural NIL Summit hosted by INFLCR. The event ran from June 13-16 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
The summit helped student-athletes nationwide learn to use their influence as a gateway to success. It taught them how to work alongside brands and become activists in their communities. Each athlete had the opportunity to collaborate and gain knowledge from peers, professional athletes, agents, and more.
Gators Trinity Thomas, Elise Bauer, Derek Wingo, Kamari Wilson, Leah Clapper, and Megan Skaggs attended the event. They gained new perspectives on brand collaboration and marketing to assist in the new NIL era of college sports.
Gator football's Wingo appreciates the opportunity he had to hear the NIL journeys of other student-athletes at the event. "A lot of these brands and businesses, you don't always know who is behind it," says Wingo. "I think it was the coolest to get different perspectives from some of the other athletes and how they were able to do it."
The sophomore linebacker has been marketing himself on his own over the past year. However, the summit helped him understand other resources like working with agents that make finding deals easier. Instead of just taking whatever is offered, he sees that student-athletes have the power to decide what deals they want. Wingo also learned skills that will allow him to use his social media as a powerful resource.
"What opened my mind the most was to be able to see all the different athletes who maybe didn't have the biggest image and really didn't play for the biggest school, but that were striking deals with all these companies and being able to promote themselves in different ways using social media," says Wingo.
In addition to peer perspectives, the NIL Summit allowed a variety of agencies to tell their side of NIL. Gator swimmer Bauer learned many brands aren't just reaching out to athletes for their own promotions. "They really want [athletes] to grow with it, and make a business out of it… which it is all about: name, image and likeness. And I think that was the area that I liked the most," she says. The event created a comfortable environment for student-athletes and businesses alike to inquire on the uncertainties with NIL. "When we first started this whole thing, no one really knew what was going on. It was kind of a learning process for both ends," Bauer explained, recalling a valuable discussion she had with a sports marketing agent at her table. The one-on-one conversations with professionals have positively impacted her NIL journey and understanding.
Clapper started her own service called NIL Island, where she helps other student-athletes navigate NIL deals and build their social image. She was able to share her brand with other athletes and build partnerships at the event.
Both Clapper and Skaggs were award nominees at the event. During the ceremony, Clapper was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Skaggs took the title of Athlete Advocate of the Year. The two gymnasts are both graduate students at Florida with several academic and athletic accolades. Both were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans earlier this month.
Highlighting the event for Gator athletes was a powerful speech from former Gator Quarterback and Heisman Winner Tim Tebow. He had a private, athlete-to-athlete discussion about being a teammate and leader. Students described his discussion as captivating, motivating and relatable. He spoke for an hour and a half about his athletic journey as a student and professional.
Wingo says, "To hear from someone who's done it all, and has experience and knows how to do it the right way was really amazing."
Tebow's inspiring words will stick with the student-athletes as they continue to progress in their careers.
The summit helped student-athletes nationwide learn to use their influence as a gateway to success. It taught them how to work alongside brands and become activists in their communities. Each athlete had the opportunity to collaborate and gain knowledge from peers, professional athletes, agents, and more.
Gators Trinity Thomas, Elise Bauer, Derek Wingo, Kamari Wilson, Leah Clapper, and Megan Skaggs attended the event. They gained new perspectives on brand collaboration and marketing to assist in the new NIL era of college sports.
Gator football's Wingo appreciates the opportunity he had to hear the NIL journeys of other student-athletes at the event. "A lot of these brands and businesses, you don't always know who is behind it," says Wingo. "I think it was the coolest to get different perspectives from some of the other athletes and how they were able to do it."
The sophomore linebacker has been marketing himself on his own over the past year. However, the summit helped him understand other resources like working with agents that make finding deals easier. Instead of just taking whatever is offered, he sees that student-athletes have the power to decide what deals they want. Wingo also learned skills that will allow him to use his social media as a powerful resource.
"What opened my mind the most was to be able to see all the different athletes who maybe didn't have the biggest image and really didn't play for the biggest school, but that were striking deals with all these companies and being able to promote themselves in different ways using social media," says Wingo.
In addition to peer perspectives, the NIL Summit allowed a variety of agencies to tell their side of NIL. Gator swimmer Bauer learned many brands aren't just reaching out to athletes for their own promotions. "They really want [athletes] to grow with it, and make a business out of it… which it is all about: name, image and likeness. And I think that was the area that I liked the most," she says. The event created a comfortable environment for student-athletes and businesses alike to inquire on the uncertainties with NIL. "When we first started this whole thing, no one really knew what was going on. It was kind of a learning process for both ends," Bauer explained, recalling a valuable discussion she had with a sports marketing agent at her table. The one-on-one conversations with professionals have positively impacted her NIL journey and understanding.
Alongside personal interactions, many student-athletes were able to apply leadership skills and market themselves to companies. Gator gymnast Leah Clapper sat on a panel discussion called A New Era in Student-Athlete Empowerment. In the discussion, Clapper was able to share her NIL journey and explain how she got to where she is today. She says, "The best changes in how NIL evolved come from student athletes… because we're the ones experiencing it. And we have the power at the beginning of this brand new era of NIL to shape the future of college athletes."During the last year with @GatorsGym, she raised money for 10 different charities.
— INFLCR (@INFLCR) June 14, 2022
Athlete Advocate goes to @MeganSkaggs_ for all of her work throughout the first year of NIL! pic.twitter.com/JXRhNd9NbW
Clapper started her own service called NIL Island, where she helps other student-athletes navigate NIL deals and build their social image. She was able to share her brand with other athletes and build partnerships at the event.
She was on the @SEC honor roll 4 times and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida.@leahclapper wins the Scholar Athlete of the Year! pic.twitter.com/oToUj1fQDH
— INFLCR (@INFLCR) June 14, 2022
Both Clapper and Skaggs were award nominees at the event. During the ceremony, Clapper was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Skaggs took the title of Athlete Advocate of the Year. The two gymnasts are both graduate students at Florida with several academic and athletic accolades. Both were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans earlier this month.
Two great minds creating impactful change for student-athlete NIL ⬇️ @TimTebow @jimcavale pic.twitter.com/Ui6oCJfguj
— INFLCR (@INFLCR) June 14, 2022
Highlighting the event for Gator athletes was a powerful speech from former Gator Quarterback and Heisman Winner Tim Tebow. He had a private, athlete-to-athlete discussion about being a teammate and leader. Students described his discussion as captivating, motivating and relatable. He spoke for an hour and a half about his athletic journey as a student and professional.
Wingo says, "To hear from someone who's done it all, and has experience and knows how to do it the right way was really amazing."
Tebow's inspiring words will stick with the student-athletes as they continue to progress in their careers.
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