NCAA athletes could be paid by sponsors, endorsement deals as early as 2021

The NCAA is moving closer to passing a rule that will allow student-athletes to sign endorsement deals and sponsorship deals to get paid.

Student-athletes could soon be paid for their name, image and likeness as early as 2021. The NCAA Board of Governors will meet next Monday and Tuesday to establish the rules allowing athletes to strike their own endorsement deals and get sponsors.

The AP was the first to report the news of optimism building toward paying student-athletes and the details how this would be carried out.

Players would be able to sign an endorsement deal to make commercials for anything from car dealerships to campus restaurants and everything in between. They’ll also be able to get paid for autographs, selling their memorabilia and any personal appearances.

The student-athletes just need to disclose the terms of the deal and their relationship with the person paying them or risk their eligibility. Among the third-parties who can pay them are school boosters. Get ready for recruiting to take on a whole new level of intrigue.

One of the most interesting outcomes of this rule, if it’s adopted in January and put in effect in 2021, is student-athletes could be instructors at camps or put their name on their own camp.

The rules won’t be in place in time to affect Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence who will likely be preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft when this rule is in place. But think about how much he could financially benefit from his own passing camp this summer? Or last summer after he won the national championship as a freshman?

The biggest names in the sport will benefit the most but this gives opportunities for everyone to benefit financially. Whether it’s an offensive lineman profiting from a campus restaurant naming a sandwich after him or a wide receiver advertising a pair of gloves or a linebacker giving a testimonial for a pair of cleats, everyone will have a chance to get a piece of the pie.

Under the old system, the NCAA and the universities were the only ones profiting from the student-athlete. This is long overdue. It is as close as ever to actually happening. Let’s just hope the NCAA doesn’t fumble walking into the end zone and this blows up in our faces.

I remain optimistic, however, this will come to fruition and student-athletes will finally be able to cash in on their name, image and likeness in college and the sham of amateur athletics will be over.

On April 29, the NCAA moved forward with steps to make this a reality for 2021.

When the news broke, many were hoping this would open the door to the return of the EA Sports NCAA Football video game franchise. Unfortunately, for now, that is not at the forefront of the NCAA’s list of priorities.

But this shouldn’t slam the door entirely on the potential return of NCAA Football. If other sports leagues and organizations can find a way to make it work for Madden, FIFA, etc, there will be a way to make this work because there’s so much money that can come from it.

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