Where does On3 rank The Grove Collective among the most ambitious NILs?

The relatively new concept that is Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has completely overhauled the landscape of college athletics and Ole Miss has been at the forefront trying to navigate the new world.

In an effort to do so correctly and within the confines of the ever-changing laws surrounding NIL and the school’s involvement The Grove Collective has stepped in and carried the water for Ole Miss.

Headed up by former Ole Miss football player and executive director Walker Jones the Grove Collective is among the top collectives in the NIL arena.

On Thursday On3’s Pete Nakos included The Grove Collective among the top 20 most ambitious NIL collectives in college sports, ranking it inside the top 10 at No. 9.

The Grove Collective has worked to secure 50 deals with national and local brands that include Wheels Up, which helps to secure travel for student-athlete’s families in exchange for community work. Another partnership recently announced was a deal between the Grove Collective and Hyperluxe which will bring an eSport tournament platform to the collective.

Over 165 contracts have been made between the Grove Collective and Ole Miss student-athletes. There is a contract with at least one player from each varsity sport.

“Their school has really gotten behind Walker and his team,” a source told On3. “They run a buttoned up operation. When their name comes up, you know you’re going up against a legit collective. They’re organized. They know what they have to work with, and they’re smart about it.”

The Top 10 Collectives according to On3:

1. Spyre Sports Group (Tennessee)
2. 12th Man+ Fund (Texas A&M)
3. Division St. (Oregon)
4. Texas One Fund (Texas)
5. John Ruiz / Canes Connection (Miami)
6. The Battle’s End (Florida State)
7. House of Victory (Southern California)
8. OneArkansasNIL (Arkansas)
9. The Grove Collective (Ole Miss)
10. Country Roads Trust (West Virginia)

The Grove Collective is hovering around 4,000 members comprised of Ole Miss fans and donors.

When it comes to the NIL discussion during the recruitment process the dollar amount always comes into play but the Grove Collective is being smart with what it offers and keeps an eye on the coin purse at all times.

Throughout the spring season of the transfer portal Ole Miss has been hit and miss with targets, landing some but also failing to secure others. One of the bigger misses was wide receiver Keon Coleman who chose Florida State over Ole Miss and others.

“My job is to be as competitive as possible so the student-athlete reverts back to those other (more traditional recruiting) factors on their decision,” Jones told The Ole Miss Spirit last month. “We have so many other great things to sell, we’re going to win more times than not if we can give (portal targets) the peace of mind knowing we pay very competitively, we’re very fair, we have great resources we put around our student-athletes (and) we’re going to protect their well-being.”

Ole Miss was either at the top or close to the top of the list in the category of most players to enter the transfer portal this spring at around 60. In trying to balance out the ledger the Rebels have brought in 24 players from the portal on top of its 27 true freshman that are now in Oxford.

While the theory and logic always goes towards a school that a player chooses had the highest dollar sign on the NIL offer sheet that is not always the case for Jones and Ole Miss.

“Over half our portal class this year took less money to come here,” Jones said. “Now, it wasn’t a huge divide. The money was very comparable, but they took less money to come here because they loved all those other factors. 

“That is my goal. If we have to write the biggest check every time, No. 1, we’re being completely wasteful with the money. And No. 2, we’re short-changing our university.”