In April, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association voted to allow high school athletes to receive Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) benefits. The landmark decision was followed with a partnership with Eccker Sports to provide resources and educational tools on how to navigate the new world of NIL.
“I think it is imperative that everyone associated with high school athletics in Louisiana is properly educated and informed on name, image, and likeness,” said Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the LHSAA. “There is a lot to NIL and it’s a moving target that we need to stay on top of.”
Not all states share that perspective, however.
Based off the ruling from the LHSAA, reported by the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, what is stopping superstar high school athletes like Arch Manning – among others – from profiting off NIL?
Very little, it seems.
“We are proud that this positioning statement on NIL has passed our Executive Committee because it’s the right thing to do for all high school student-athletes in Louisiana,” Bonine said in the release. “NIL is a moving target, which makes ongoing education so important for our entire high school community.”
Louisiana is one of nine states that are allowing NIL at the high school level.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association has received some calls on NIL, former executive director Bernard Childress, who will retired July 1, told USA TODAY Sports. At this time, it isn’t something that has come to fruition, but it could be placed on the agenda when the TSSAA Legislative Council next meets in December.
“If we’re going to allow an NIL deal, they can’t show a school mascot or a logo. It would have to be from outside the school, like an AAU basketball player. As long as that deal is not linked to the school it wouldn’t affect an athlete’s amateur status,” Childress said.
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If anyone wants it to be discussed, it would have to be submitted by a mid-October deadline to be ready and be on the agenda for when the council meets in December, or the TSSAA staff could place it on the agenda for discussion themselves.
In Tennessee, athletes are prohibited from monetizing their NIL under current regulations and the passage of House Bill 1351, which pertains to collegiate athletics.
In Georgia, House Bill 617 was signed in to law in May 2021. It allows for college athletes to receive compensation for NIL.
The Georgia High School Athletic Association (GHSA) released a statement in July 2021 handing the decision and guidance over to the state.
When asked what would need to change in Georgia, GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines responded via email to The Greenville News saying, “Currently, a law to allow it. There have been no proposals to discuss it or change by-laws by the membership.”
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In many states, however, NIL progress won’t be made for a while.
— Chapel Fowler of the Fayetteville Observer, Tom Kreager of the Nashville Tennessean, Adam Fisher of The Naples Daily News, Scott Keepfer of The Greenville News and Koki Riley of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser contributed to this report.
Joe Dandron, a Michigan native, covers high school athletics and more for The Greenville News of the USA Today Network. You can contact him at jdandron@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @JoeMDandron.
