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NIL deals put just a few bucks in most athletes’ pockets

FILE - Texas running back Bijan Robinson (5) runs against Oklahoma State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Robinson was named to The Associated Press preseason All-America NCAA college football first team, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) FILE - West Virginia lineman Dante Stills (55) looks on during NCAA college football practice Thursday Aug. 4, 2022, in Morgantown, W.Va. “Obviously my first three years, you know, being a college athlete, it’s hard,” Stills said, “especially with, like, the money, the stipend you get. That doesn’t last you a long time. So just adding on this NIL, I’m very appreciative and thankful for it, and I know a lot of people are. It’s helping out you and your family.” (William Wotring/The Dominion Post via AP, File) FILE - Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez speaks to reporters during the NCAA college football Big 12 Media Days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. “For me, it’s been nothing more than fun,” said Martinez, the prolific former Nebraska quarterback who will start for the Wildcats this season. “I’ve never wanted it to stress me out.” The additional stress is why some players have opted out of NIL deals. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) FILE - Texas' Christian Jones (70) blocks against Louisiana-Lafayette during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Thanks to a bold new era of name, image and likeness deals across college sports, plenty of star players are cruising around campus in a fancy ride. But for every NIL millionaire there are thousands more athletes like Jones that might have made hundreds or thousands of dollars but who have hardly struck it rich. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File) FILE - Texas running back Bijan Robinson speaks at the NCAA college football Big 12 media days in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, July 14, 2022. At Texas, running back Bijan Robinson has deals with Raising Cane's restaurants, C4 Energy drinks and sports streaming platform DAZN, while also forging a partnership with an auto dealership for the use of a Lamborghini. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
NIL deals put just a few bucks in most athletes’ pockets