NIL is making a big impact in high school athletics, but Texas is falling behind
The ability to profit off Name, Image and Likeness is now a driving force in college recruitment, giving star athletes opportunities to provide for their families.
NIL is also prominent in high school athletics. Although there are varying restrictions, most states have approved its use.
Texas, however, is one of 12 states that prohibits NIL, and its athletes are unable to reap its benefits unless they transfer out of state or enter the professional ranks early.
Texas is one of 12 states that does not allow NIL, according to ON3. Could the Lone Star state change? It’s the only state within the top six of the United States population to prohibit NIL.
In June, the Florida High School Athletic Association unanimously approved a measure that allows athletes to utilize NIL without risking eligibility.
Texas is behind the curve, but is that a bad thing?
The vast majority of football coaches in the greater Fort Worth-area are opposed to the idea.
The Star-Telegram polled 50 coaches, asking if NIL should be allowed in Texas. The results showed that 90% of polled coaches believe it should continue to be prohibited.
Of the five coaches who said yes, two were from private schools.
Argyle Liberty Christian head coach Jason Witten, a former Dallas Cowboys legend, said he is open to the idea of NIL in high school sports, but wants to proceed with caution.
“It just seems to be the landscape of high school football now,” Witten said. “There are a lot of factors that the powers that be will need to consider. But I am OK with it.”
Crowley head coach Carlos Lynn, on the other hand, prefers the game the way it is now. However, he thinks if it must be implemented, great care should be taken.
“It just depends on how it is organized,” Lynn said of NIL. “There is no perfect solution. You don’t want to get where there are so many distractions in high school football.”
Implementing NIL would remove some of the game’s innocence, turning Friday nights under the lights into a business for some elite players. Some see it as a way for adults to capture more power.
For others, NIL is a valuable part of the athletic journey and an essential tool to utilize to improve your financial well-being.
Fort Worth All Saints High School makes a point to ensure its athletes understand the power of NIL. They offer a class that teaches players how to use Name, Image and Likeness once they reach college level, which can be an extremely valuable tool.
The importance, impact and potential of NIL is limitless. For now, Texas holds on to amateurism and still boasts some of the best high school football teams in the nation, such as North Crowley, the Class 6A Division I state champions who hold a No. 3 Max Preps national ranking.
Mater Dei of California is Max Preps’ national champion, and Milton of Georgia is the No. 2 team. Both California and Georgia allow NIL with limitations.
With NIL being prohibited, Texas high school stars have the option to transfer out of state or to enroll in college early. Few understand that more than Southlake Carroll coach Riley Dodge.
Quinn Ewers, former Southlake Carroll quarterback and five-star prospect, left high school early to enroll at Ohio State and make money through NIL.
Dodge understood the decision, which was a life-changing one for Ewers.
Although Ewers’ departure affected the Dragons’ talent levels, Dodge is proud of the way the UIL and the Texas High School Coaches Association are holding on to amateurism in the ever-changing landscape of amateur sports.
“There’s got to be, at some point, still that love for the game, and it’s not about money,” Dodge said. “But we’ll see where it goes, but I’m proud of the way our state has handled it so far.”
At some point, things could change. The trends suggest it is inevitable, but for now, Texas high school athletics remain pure.
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