10 Athlete Influencers Who Built Their Brands in the NIL Era

Name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities helped college athletes build commercial brands around their sports and personalities. The NCAA’s interim NIL policy took effect in July 2021; it is now an established part of the athlete marketing landscape.

This list revisits ten athlete profiles from football, basketball and gymnastics. It includes athletes who have since moved beyond college competition, rather than a ranking of currently eligible student-athletes. The examples below highlight content styles and college-era brand building; confirm current status and availability before outreach.

Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders built his college football profile at Jackson State and Colorado, playing quarterback for teams coached by his father, Deion Sanders. He was selected by Cleveland in the 2025 NFL Draft. His TikTok and Instagram offer examples of his presence beyond game broadcasts.

Sanders’ college-era endorsement history includes Gatorade and Beats by Dre. His profile shows how a recognizable sporting identity can extend into product partnerships; past deals do not confirm present availability.

Olivia Dunne

Olivia Dunne combined LSU gymnastics with a substantial social media presence. LSU identified 2025 as her fifth and final college season. Her TikTok and Instagram mix athletic content with lifestyle posts.

Olivia’s content is a blend of athletic highlights, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and personal insights, making her relatable to fans and inspiring a new generation of athletes. And as her following has grown, so has her brand appeal. This has led to high-profile partnerships with companies like Forever 21 and American Eagle. Her success showcases the potential of NIL for college athletes, setting a standard for how to build a brand while competing at the highest level.

Quinn Ewers

Quinn Ewers attended Ohio State before transferring to Texas, where he played quarterback for the Longhorns. His college career preceded his selection by Miami in the 2025 NFL Draft. His Instagram provides a starting point for reviewing his public content.

Ewers’ college-era partnerships included C4 Energy and Hulu. For a new campaign, review his recent posts and audience data rather than assuming that his college affiliation defines his current audience.

The Cavinder Twins

Haley and Hanna Cavinder played college basketball at Fresno State and Miami. Their shared TikTok and Instagram content combines basketball, lifestyle and their relationship as sisters.

Their NIL history includes partnerships with Boost Mobile, Champs Sports and Under Armour. The shared account format offers an example of how two athletes can develop a recognizable creative identity together.

Anthony Hamilton Jr

Anthony Hamilton Jr. combines basketball skills with entertainment content. In its December 2021 announcement, Viral Nation reported securing more than $400,000 in partnerships across 11 brands, including Reign Total Body Fuel, BLK and Sleeper. A TikTok video of Hamilton playing against Tyreek Hill illustrates his crossover sports content.

The $400,000 figure describes announced partnership value at that point in time. It should not be read as current annual earnings or as a prediction of what another athlete or campaign will generate.

Flau’jae Johnson

Flau’jae Johnson built her college profile as an LSU basketball guard while also developing a hip-hop career. Her music and basketball content give this profile two distinct creative strands.

Johnson’s NIL history includes JBL, Powerade and Taco Bell. Her Instagram and TikTok show how sports and music can coexist within one public identity.

Jalen Milroe

Jalen Milroe played quarterback for Alabama before Seattle selected him in the 2025 NFL Draft. His college story centered on football, training and his development within the Crimson Tide program.

Milroe’s college-era brand partnerships included Celsius, Beats by Dre and HEYDUDE. These are historical examples of his NIL activity, rather than confirmation that those partnerships remain active.

Paige Bueckers

Paige Bueckers built her college basketball profile at UConn before becoming the first pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, selected by Dallas. Her TikTok and Instagram extend her presence beyond the court.

Bueckers’ NIL history includes Gatorade and StockX. Her progression from college basketball to the professional game is a reminder to distinguish an athlete’s earlier NIL activity from current sponsorship opportunities.

Azzi Fudd

Azzi Fudd played alongside Bueckers at UConn and developed a profile around basketball and her off-court personality. Her college-era content provides another example of women’s basketball intersecting with consumer brand partnerships.

Fudd’s NIL history includes Chipotle and BioSteel. The embedded Madison Reed post also demonstrates a beauty partnership; review current contracts and category restrictions before proposing a new collaboration.

Hailey Van Lith

Hailey Van Lith played college basketball at Louisville, LSU and TCU. She was selected by Chicago with the eleventh pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, so her TCU affiliation belongs to her college career.

Van Lith’s college-era partnerships included adidas and LaCroix. Her mix of basketball and lifestyle content illustrates how athlete marketing can extend beyond equipment and on-court performance.

Build an athlete creator campaign

Build an athlete campaign around the person’s content, audience and current commercial position. Viral Nation’s influencer marketing services cover creator selection, campaign planning and execution.

Athlete shortlist checklist

• Confirm current college or professional status and the relevant team or school requirements.
• Review recent posts for a natural connection between the athlete, product and creative brief.
• Request current platform analytics instead of relying on old follower totals.
• Check existing sponsors and category exclusivity before negotiating.
• Agree on deliverables, disclosure, usage rights and measurement before production.

For student-athlete campaigns, consult the current NCAA NIL guidance and the athlete’s school for applicable requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Are all of these athletes still competing in college?

No. This list looks at athletes who built visibility during the NIL era. Several have moved into professional sports, so college affiliations describe their earlier careers rather than current eligibility.

Which sports and content styles appear in this NIL list?

The profiles cover football, basketball and gymnastics. Their content includes training, game highlights, lifestyle posts, music and sibling-led videos, giving marketers several creative directions to compare.

What can brands learn from Anthony Hamilton Jr.’s partnerships?

Viral Nation’s December 2021 announcement reported more than $400,000 in partnerships across 11 brands. It is a dated example of athlete creator work, not a current earnings estimate or a campaign performance guarantee.

How should a brand build an athlete creator shortlist?

Start with content fit, then request current audience data and partnership availability. Confirm the athlete’s present status, sponsorship restrictions, deliverables, disclosure requirements and content usage rights before committing.