The Rise of “Street Agents” in the NIL Era

The rapid growth of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities has created a new challenge in college sports: the rise of unregulated “street agents” who position themselves between athletes and potential NIL earnings. According to coaches and administrators interviewed by ESPN, many of these individuals are not certified agents or attorneys but still promise to help high school and college athletes secure scholarships or NIL deals—often charging significant fees or percentages of earnings. Coaches say high school athletes are particularly vulnerable because they lack the compliance support systems available at colleges. Surveys indicate that a notable share of athletes have already worked with such representatives, though many coaches believe these intermediaries are not acting in the athletes’ best interests. As NIL continues to reshape the recruiting landscape, many in college athletics are calling for stronger oversight to protect student-athletes from exploitation.

Read more in this article on AthleticBusiness.com: Coaches: 'Street Agents' Exploiting Student-Athletes in NIL Deals by Paul Steinbach