South Carolina State became the latest university to begin a Name, Image, and Likeness program for its athletes.
On Tuesday, the school announced it had formed the S.C. State Bulldogs Exchange, a collaboration with INFLCR to connect local businesses with SCSU athletes.
“The new S.C. State Bulldogs Exchange will greatly enhance and streamline the process of connecting businesses with student-athletes in Orangeburg and the surrounding area,” SCSU athletic director Nathan Cochran said in a statement. “We are excited to continue to provide our student-athletes with excellent resources to maximize their NIL opportunities and build their brand while representing South Carolina State’s growing national brand.”
“We’re excited to provide the technology for SC State Bulldog student-athletes to grow their NIL business and maximize their wallet share while doing it,” INFLCR Founder Jim Cavale adds. “With the SC State Bulldogs Exchange, the Bulldogs and AD Dr. Nathan Cochran are staying ahead of the curve as NIL continues to evolve.”
S.C. State Bulldogs Exchange will be free for athletes and potential sponsors. A database of SCSU student-athletes will be available for businesses to search. Any business compliant with SC State guidelines will then be able to reach out to athletes or their representation to initiate discussions about possible NIL deals.
The move comes amid college sports leaders considering a legal settlement that would likely lay out the framework for sharing revenue with athletes in a future NCAA business model.
