Overview of Gators NIL
Your Brand: Powered, Backed, and Supported by the Gators
Maximize your opportunities with our full-service NIL Suite
We’ve Got Your Back: Resources & Support
We’re all about helping you succeed by maximizing your name, image, and likeness. We’re here to amplify you and collaborate together to build your brand, connect you with incredible opportunities, and mentor you on how to leverage your NIL to its fullest.
The university and athletic department have lots of tools and services we refer to as your NIL Suite – Here are some highlights of what we can do together:
- One-on-One NIL Advising: You can always book time with an NIL or Creative Brand staff member for personalized advice. That could be discussing your social media strategy, planning your personal brand, or troubleshooting a current deal. We treat this like coaching – we want you to feel fully supported in NIL. You can contact Ben Chase, Director of NIL (BenC@gators.ufl.edu), and Kevin Camps, Assistant Athletic Director, Creative Services (KevinC@gators.ufl.edu) for assistance.
- Exposure & Opportunities: We circulate leads and opportunities. If a company calls Gators Athletics looking for athletes to partner with (like Gator Sports Properties referring a brand or others asking for ambassadors), we can connect them with you. We also maintain a list of NIL marketplaces and ensure you’re aware of any sign-up deadlines (for example, when a new video game, national or regional sponsor campaign launches).
- NIL Education: We host workshops and seminars to boost your business smarts – from tax and finance workshops (understand how to pay taxes on NIL money) to branding seminars (building your brand, negotiating, etc.). For instance, we do local business NIL showcases and bring in experts to coach you on social media best practices, career development and life skills.
- Professional Photos and Videos: We have a network of photographers that can shoot action footage, portraits, or interviews for your NIL. Additionally, in the past UF athletes have been paid by companies (like Pfizer, UF Health, trading card firms, etc.) to use in-game video and photos in commercials or cards.
- Content Creation Support: Need help editing graphics, video reels, or other content for your sponsors? We have resources (or can refer you to reliable vendors) to polish your stuff. This can include basic graphic design for flyers, video editing tips, or directing a TikTok shoot.
- Contract: We recommend you read and understand all of your agreements and their terms.
At any point, if you’re unsure about an opportunity or rule, please reach out. Ben Chase (BenC@gators.ufl.edu) is the Director of NIL Strategy and your go-to for ANY NIL questions or unusual situations. He and the compliance team will help figure out solutions to get your NILs done!
NIL Opportunities: What You Can Do
Good news – as a Florida Gator you have full rights to profit from your Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) as long as you follow a few common-sense rules. For example, you can sign endorsement deals, sponsorships or appearance contracts with businesses and brands – but you must actually do the work or deliverables promised. In other words, every paid NIL deal must be a “quid pro quo” arrangement (you provide services or promotion, and in return you get paid). Whether it’s creating content, making appearances, or performing specific tasks as agreed, make sure your “deliverables” for the deal are clear and laid out in writing.
- Endorsements and Sponsorships. Promote products, services or companies on your social media or in public appearances. Charge companies for ads, Instagram posts, videos or personal appearances. You can utilize the Gator logo, marks and colors for marketing purposes if you have approval – please reach out to Ben Chase and he will connect you with Gator Sports Properties, our third-party marketing rights group.
- Personal Appearances and Autographs. You can be paid for autograph signings, speaking at events or camps, autograph sessions at a dealer, and other in-person promotions.
- Merchandise and Licensing. You may create and sell your own branded merchandise (caps, shirts, posters, etc.) and autograph memorabilia, as long as gain approval to use the Florida Gators trademarks, logos and marks. If you’re looking to make custom NIL Gear with the Gator logo, message Ben Chase for help and he will work with our licensing director.
- Social Media & Content Creation. You can freely use your Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or other platforms to post paid ads, “sponsor me” content, and brand partnerships. If you wear your own sponsors’ gear, or talk about a brand in your bio or posts, that’s fine on your own channels. Avoid showing any UF logos or team trademarks in those ads unless you’ve gotten the proper approval, which can be requested by working with Ben Chase.
- Team Events and Schedule. Focus on team commitments first. NIL activities are for your off-hours or free time – do your endorsements, shoots, or visits when you’re not practicing; in class, visiting with your academic advisor or have an appointment with the medical or training staff. During official team activities (games, practices, team travel, etc.), stick to team-approved gear and appearances. For example, if you sign an apparel deal with a brand other than our team sponsors (Nike/Jordan), that’s okay – just don’t wear or promote that brand’s gear at Gator games or team practices. Basically: if it’s a team event, wear Gators stuff; if it’s your free time, you can rep your own sponsors.
- NIL Deals can happen as a spin-off of a team activity, such as at Media Day, or a quick deal post a big win. Most of these deals are pre-approved and negotiated ahead of time with you in an “opt-in” manner. If an opportunity arises out of nowhere, contact Ben Chase to make sure it is both legitimate and compliant.
Compliance & Reporting
As you build your NIL brand, there are a couple of steps to keep everything compliant. These rules aren’t meant to stop you – they’re just there to protect your eligibility and keep the playing field fair.
- Quid Pro Quo Deliverables. Make sure every NIL deal spells out what you’ll do in return for payment (what posts, videos, appearances, etc.). Student-athletes must be compensated only for work actually performed. This means your contract or agreement should clearly list your obligations (e.g. “2 Instagram posts, 1 company event appearance”)
- Reporting $600+ Deals – NIL Go. Under the new House v. NCAA settlement, any third-party NIL contract or deal worth $600 or more (in total value) must be reported online through the NIL platform called NIL Go. The rule is strict: yes, every Division I athlete must report these deals. You or an authorized rep can log into NILGo.com and enter the deal details – who the sponsor is, what you’ll provide, how much you’ll get, and upload the contract or invoice. This has to be done within 5 business days of signing the contract. Once you report, NIL Go will check that everything looks reasonable (the pay matches the work, it’s for a valid business purpose, etc.) If it’s all clear, you’re good to go. If there’s an issue, the College Sports Commission or UF compliance staff will reach out to help you sort it out.
- Who can report for you? You can do it yourself or have one trusted rep (like an agent or parent) enter the deal in NIL Go on your behalf – but you, the student-athlete, must hit “submit”. All submissions are ultimately your responsibility.
- Timing: Any new third-party NIL deal after June 6, 2025 should go into NIL Go within 5 days of signing. (If you have older deals from before that date, only report them if they keep paying you after June 30, 2025.)
- Getting help: NILGo has instructions on its site, and you can also contact your designated NIL Go contact for guidance. If you ever get stuck or your deal gets “flagged,” just ask for help – it’s better to pause and fix things than risk eligibility. You can also learn more about NIL Go through this link
- International Gators: Prior to participating in any NIL opportunities, international athletes on F-1 visas are encouraged to contact the UF International Center prior to participation in NIL agreements.
- Restricted NIL Partnerships: Student-athletes will not be permitted to enter into NIL agreements with gambling/sports wagering vendors or vendors associated with athlete performance enhancing drugs, both as defined by the NCAA.
Common Questions
- Can I wear UF logos in my NIL deal?
- Is the company a Sponsor of the Gators?
- If yes, of course!
- If you’re not sure, reach out to Ben Chase
- If no, then you cannot promote it in Gators Gear. However, if the company is interested in doing an NIL deal with you in Gators Gear, they can reach out to Darren McPhail & Ben Chase to help get it done.
- Is the company a Sponsor of the Gators?
- Am I able to sell gear?
- You can autograph a photo of yourself or sign a jersey you buy on your own, but you cannot sell, trade, or give away for value any equipment or apparel issued by UF (e.g. your game jersey, helmet, team shoes, gear bag, etc.).
NIL Suite
The NIL Suite unlocks so many resources:
- Pitch Decks & Media Kits: We’ll help you craft a professional pitch decks or one-sheet that highlights your stats, social following, and “why you’re a great partner.” Having a strong presentation makes it easier to approach sponsors.
- Brand/Business Outreach: We can connect you with Gator alumni, local businesses, and national partners looking for athletes. We also give tips on how to cold-email or pitch sponsors effectively.
- Social Media Strategy: Get feedback on your content plan. We’ll help brainstorm ideas for posts, reels, or stories that align with your brand and the products you promote. We can also guide you on posting schedules and hashtag use to maximize reach.
- Content Feedback & Coaching: Before you hit “post,” we can critique your ads or sponsored posts for things like clear messaging, good quality, and compliance (e.g. proper disclosures).
- NIL Marketplace Support: Need to join an NIL marketplace or app? We’ll walk you through signing up and setting up a profile so you don’t miss out on digital opportunities.
- Networking Events: Invitations to NIL mixers, sponsor meet-and-greets, or showcases. We keep you in the loop on any event where you can meet brands or pitch your image in person.
- Workshops & Seminars: Invitations to local and national NIL events (like the College Sports Commission NIL Summit), specialized tax or finance workshops for athletes, and media training sessions.
- Marketing Collateral: Assistance in creating business cards, personal logos, or simple websites/LinkTrees. We can direct you to services or run small projects in-house.
- Photography & Videography: Coordinating with our media team or approved vendors to produce high-quality promotional videos or photos. Having professional content makes your deals stand out.
- Merchandising Guidance: Advice on starting your own merchandise (like selling T-shirts or prints), including how to manage pricing and distributors.
- Time Management Coaching: Tips on balancing NIL commitments with classes and practice, including setting up calendars or checklists to track your deals and deadlines.
- Performance Analytics: Help accessing analytics tools (or interpreting your social media stats) so you can show brands your audience reach and engagement.
- Personal Branding: Ongoing mentoring on your public image – from wardrobe tips for photoshoots to refining your personal story – so your brand resonates with fans and sponsors.
At the end of the day, the NIL Suite is the newest piece of your Gator Journey. We want you to thrive. Use us as a resource – our job is to help you make the most of NIL while keeping you eligible and on track. Think of us as your solution-finders. Contact NIL staff anytime, and let’s turn your NIL goals into reality! Go Gators!
Contacts for Questions
Who are the main contacts at Florida when it comes to NIL opportunities and logistics?
- General NIL Questions: Ben Chase, Director of NIL Strategy: BenC@gators.ufl.edu
- Brand Building/, Kevin Camps, Assistant AD Creative, KevinC@gators.ufl.edu
- Merch & Apparel and Logo: Debbie Gay, Licensing Manager: DebbieG@gators.ufl.edu
- Sponsorships, Darren McPhail, Gator Sports Properties: Darren.McPhail@learfield.com
- Photos & Video Rights, Ben Godwin, Catapult Sports: Ben.Godwin@catapultsports.com
