What SEC standouts Will Anderson, Anthony Richardson, Hendon Hooker and others think about NIL

ATLANTA — Naturally, NIL was a booming topic during SEC Media Days, with all 14 of the league’s coaches opining various pros and cons after a year of operating in a new world with name, image and likeness.

But what about the players? What do they think about NIL? How has it benefited them? How has it changed locker room dynamics?

Here’s a number of takeaways On3 assembled from SEC players in Atlanta last week discussing their thoughts and experiences benefitting from NIL:

Will Anderson, Alabama outside linebacker 

Among the most marketable players in the country, Will Anderson has profited quite well off his name, image and likeness following a dominant sophomore season. 

The future top NFL Draft pick disregarded potential NIL opportunities in 2021, but the Alabama linebacker has capitalized on his successes this summer. He’s currently driving a 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS, and said his NIL deals “changed his life a lot.”

“It’s been able to help me and my family, and I feel like right now I put money aside for, of course, myself, but I really am doing NIL to help my family a lot,” Anderson said. 

“I don’t want my parents to have to be stressed and worried about how they’re going to get to my games, any of that stuff like that. So to be able to take care of all that and to help them out to make sure that they’re living well enough to balance everything out has been great.”

Anderson is also using his budding platform to help other athletes navigate the NIL space, forming the A3 Athlete brand. 

“I don’t really know too much about NIL (rules), but all I know is the deals I get and get some money to help me and my family,” he said. 

“I take control of my own brand, you know, with the whole NIL thing. It was kind of overwhelming at first because you don’t know a lot of the verbiage and terminology when it comes to deals. So with this A3 Athlete, it’s going to help players such as myself or younger players under me come together with my advisory team or with people on my team and help go over contracts. Go over those different things to take the load off for you and your family to read over everything that’s going on.”

Dakereon Joyner, South Carolina wideout

The Gamecocks’ do-everything playmaker has benefited big-time off various NIL opportunities after leading South Carolina to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina. 

He earned MVP honors in his first-career start at quarterback, later inking an NIL deal with Duke’s Mayo and naming his two puppies Duke and Mayo. 

Dakereon Joyner is all that is good about college football and the new NIL rules. He has used NIL both for personal gain and to help others, giving back to the community in a variety of ways. Earlier this summer, he hosted the first-annual “DK Joyner Football Camp” in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, where many of his Gamecocks’ teammates attended as volunteer counselors.

“NIL has done great things for me. To have funds in my pocket to lend a hand to anyone that needs it. To be able to help others,” Joyner said.

South Carolina’s fifth-year senior explained that he’s picky about what brands he wants to partner with, saying, “You don’t want to be so accessible to everybody.”

“What can that brand do for me and what can I do for that brand?,” Joyner said. 

“Am I touching lives? Am I touching kids? That’s my biggest thing. I’ve enjoyed the personable relationships. But I have to protect my brand. “

Joyner said his biggest NIL deal was being “an ambassador for Duke’s Mayo.” The irony is he doesn’t even really like mayonnaise. 

“But now every time I go to the store and see it, I get it because, ‘Why not?,” Joyner joked. 

Joyner has shared stories and NIL experiences with new teammate Spencer Rattler, another top NIL earner. South Carolina’s two leaders have also discussed the always-fun topic of taxes. 

“I have all my money set aside. I’m ready for Uncle Sam,” Joyner said. 

In terms of the broad guidelines surrounding NIL, after a year of operating within the space, Joyner does not believe there should be any “salary cap or anything” but “I do think restrictions need to be in place because (NIL) is being used in recruiting and that isn’t fair to some players.” 

Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss wide receiver 

The Ole Miss senior wideout called NIL “a blessing.” Jonathan Mingo made it clear that since the colleges make so much money off the athletes, it’s only fair they get a piece of the pie now. 

“They make millions and millions of dollars off us, so it’s good that we get to get more money in our pocket besides a little scholarship checks we get every month,” Mingo told On3.

“It’s a blessing. It’s not the same for everybody. I get that. It’s based off who you are, but I believe your play on the field will help your NIL.”

Zacch Pickens, South Carolina defensive end

South Carolina’s senior lineman was seriously considering leaving school early for the 2022 NFL Draft. He got a Day 2 grade and head coach Shane Beamer was convinced Zacch Pickens would no longer be in a Gamecocks uniform for next season. 

But thanks to NIL opportunities, Pickens chose to return to school to get his degree and improve his draft stock, hoping to play his way into a first-round grade. Without his NIL deals, Pickens would’ve had to leave school early to provide for his family. 

“NIL allowed me to take care of my mom,” he told On3. 

“I have it now, so I could get here whatever she needed. Phone bill, water bill, light bill, I could handle it. NIL has helped us a lot. Whatever my mom needs right now, I can give it to her.”

Martez Manuel, Missouri defensive back

Of all the players polled in Atlanta, only the Missouri senior defensive back raised real concerns with the future of college football in a new NIL world. 

Martez Manuel said NIL “has changed the game.”

“I won’t say for better or for worse, but it’s a money game now. That’s the best way to put it. Whoever has the most money is going to get the

best players sadly,” he said. 

Almost parroting similar concerns to some coaches, Manuel is concerned that NIL could sap the sport of some of “it’s integrity.”

“I’m from Columbia (Missouri). I went to high school and middle school there. So, it used to be about what team meant something to you. Columbia and the Tigers obviously meant something to me being from there,” he explained. 

“I feel like now it’s more about what team is going to give you the best NIL contract. Hopefully, that doesn’t

make the game lose its integrity and make college football lose what’s special about it, but only time will tell.” 

Anthony Richardson, Florida quarterback

The Florida quarterback has worked with the Gator Collective to set up multiple NIL deals in the last year. Anthony Richardson had a profitable AR-15 brand that sold merchandise and gear in 2021, but he’s ditched that nickname during his offseason rebrand. 

Richardson has held multiple autograph signing events this offseason. 

“NIL, it’s done a lot for me. It allows me to support my family in ways that I never would have imagined that I would be able to,” he said. 

“I’m thankful for NIL. The Gator Collective, that’s something great because it allows us to connect with people. This past weekend, I just did an event. Just signing stuff for all the fans and supporters, taking pictures with them. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time. Most people don’t get that opportunity, and it was great to put a smile on other people’s faces. Shout out to the Gator Collective.”

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee quarterback

Like Zacch Pickens, the Vols’ senior quarterback opted to return to school because of multiple lucrative NIL opportunities. Hendon Hooker has partnered with the Spyre Sports Group — Tennessee’s NIL Collective. His older sister, Nile, is essentially is business manager, helping set up deals and speaking engagements. 

Hooker has NIL deals with Spyre Sports, Krystals Restaurants, Municipal and others.

“It’s been great (partnering with Spyre),” Hooker said. 

“You know, communication has been great, and they’re very mindful of our time. Our time is very valuable, so they don’t try to do too much. They make sure that we’re free and that, you know, we’re in the right state of mind to be able to venture out and do different events.”

Just before SEC Media Days, Hooker along with wideout Cedric Tillman went to New York City on a trip sponsored by Spyre Sports Group. They met with brands like Barstool Sports, Topps Trading Cards and Fanatics, and were featured NASDAQ billboard in Times Square.

“It’s a blessing,” Hooker said, adding that the trip was a perfect example of the good NIL opportunities now provide college athletes.  

“At the end of the day, it’s our name or our image or our likeness, so I don’t see why there should be a limit on that. You know, it’s a new thing, and I feel like it’s a great thing for us to be able to go through this and venture out and learn things that we’re interested in — not just, you know, football, but business, and putting us in a business man’s mindset early on in life. I think it’s a cool thing that we’re getting to experience it.”

This offseason, Hooker also co-wrote a children’s book with his brother Alston Hooker titled The ABCs of Scripture for Athletes, using his NIL platform to promote his faith. 

“Faith is big in my family. I’m trying to instill that in my little cousin, Landon Hooker,” Hendon Hooker explained. 

“He’s 6 years old, and all he wants to do is play ball all day. We’re trying to encourage him to read a little bit more, so we made kind of a more appealing book to kids. But, you know, everyone can indulge in some scripture, for sure.”

Hooker was asked on his thoughts about recruits now getting major NIL money — with notably future Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava reportedly inking an $8 million NIL deal — and if that would cause any potential issues in the locker room. But the 24-year-old senior dismissed any concerns, saying, “if I was coming out [of high school] again, I’d want to get paid, too.”

“There’s some guys that’s special out here that have earned that,” Hooker said. 

“At the end of the day, they put in the same work we put it in. So, you know, why shouldn’t they be rewarded, as well? But it’s still a factor, you know, when you get here you have to show up. But I would say take advantage of that, young guys, and continue to work hard.”

Tank Bigsby, Auburn tailback

Like Hooker, the Tigers’ tailback does not believe varied NIL deals cause current jealousy within the locker room. Tank Bigsby, who benefited nicely from NIL deals to stick around at Auburn after pondering transferring this offseason, added that NIL isn’t nearly discussed as much compared to last season when it first became a new deal. 

“It’s no jealousy, and that’s the best thing about it,” Bigsby said. 

“The guys that are making a lot of money don’t come in the locker room saying, ‘I got this and that.’ We don’t even speak about NIL. We don’t even talk about it a lot.

“When NIL first came out last year, that’s all you heard around the locker room. All you heard was, ‘NIL, man! We’re fixing to get paid!!!’ But it’s not like that no more, and I respect them guys for doing that. Like everybody else says, if a dude come in and we see that he post a deal. ‘Congratulations. Bruh, I got to work hard to get where you at.’ I’m not hating on you. ‘Congratulations.’ You just did something that made me know what I can do now, so I’m fixing to go out there and compete and do the same thing.