Josh Heupel reveals how Spyre sports has helped add value to Vol football

The last two weeks have been very much monumental in terms of Tennessee’s NIL approach.

Last week, Director of Athletics, Danny White endorsed Tennessee’s two collectives as he urged fans to get behind the Lady Vol Boost-Her Club and Spyre Sports Volunteer Club.

On Thursday, Josh Heupel publicaly endorsed Spyre and their Volunteer Club for the first time.

“NIL is a huge part of the landscape now,” Heupel said. “From the moment the ruling changed, you’ve heard me say how important it is. As a player, as a former player, the opportunities I would’ve been afforded. I think our players have handled it in a really positive way. Can’t underestimate at all the importance that Spyre has had in providing our players opportunities. It’s life-changing for them and it’s huge part of the success as we continue down this road as a program. That’s a huge part of it.”

To date, Spyre Sports and The Volunteer Club have helped student-athletes earn almost $5 million.

“I think we’re uniquely situated,” Heupel said. “The Power T, this fanbase, the city that is Knoxville. The opportunities that can be and are afforded to our players, to me, this is the No. 1 destination in NIL opportunities. You can see it as we’ve grown as a program, the power and the opportunities that have been provided with our current roster here. How they’ve had an opportunity to grow their image. Spyre Sports, their ability to help our players, what they’ve been able to do, what they will continue to do, that’s a huge part of the success and they’ve done a phenomenal job.”

Vols have ‘the biggest and best fanbase in college sports’

Spyre has been instrumental in finding deals and reaching agreements with both male and female athletes in numerous sports on campus.

“I believe we have only scratched the surface of what we are capable of in the greatest college sports city in America,” White said last week. “We have the biggest and best fanbase in college sports. Let’s continue to use that to our advantage. I encourage all of you to support our student-athletes and collectives. Please support the Lady Vol Boost-Her club and Sprye sports and their Volunteer club. These collectives have made it their mission to support our student athletes and help Tennessee athletes be the best that we can be.”

Over the past 16 months, Spyre has established two entities to allow donors and fans to support Tennessee athletes. The Volunteer Club supports Tennessee student-athletes through a monthly membership program. Volunteer Legacy was recently established, too, as the 501(c)(3) wing of Spyre, which is accepting tax-deductible donations.

The Lady Vol Boost Her Club will only be ramping up NIL activity, too. The collective recently partnered with Spyre to help bring AT&T Fiber into the NIL space. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker signed on next to Lady Vol basketball players Tamari Key, Sara Puckett and Jordan Walker. That partnership could just be the tip of the NIL iceberg for Tennessee athletes, especially after the request from Danny White.

Tennessee fans raised over $100,000 after win over Alabama

White and his endorsement carries significant weight amongst fans and donors. Last month after fans stormed the field and took down the goal posts against Alabama, White urged fans to help in the effort to get new goal posts.

The request was a light hearted and feel-good post that was in fun. In reality, Tennessee has had goal posts waiting for the next field storming since they last tore them down after the 1998 Florida game.

Vol Nation responded and helped quickly raise over $100,000 to buy new replacement posts.

“We make a lot of bold proclamations around here,” White said. “We talk about being the best athletic department in the country. We have the best fan base in the country. We sit here in the best college sports city in the country. Let’s be the very best at name, image, and likeness. Let’s continue to push the envelope, operate with integrity and chase championships in all of our sports.”

Members of the NIL initiative with The Volunteer Club are granted special access to events featuring the players. They receive occasional items in the mail that range from hats and shirts to autographed memorabilia of players such as Jalin Hyatt.

Pretty sure this is the first autograph l've picked up in ages. I think I chose well 🍊🏈 Thanks for making this available @TheVolClub @spyresports pic.twitter.com/kqYSuOK2LU

— Nikki (@nkim47) November 8, 2022

After Hyatt caught a Vol record five touchdowns against Alabama last month, Spyre announced a new campaign where Hyatt could benefit from his NIL in a unique way on a new platform available to all Tennessee athletes.

They provided an affiliate link to promote new members of the Volunteer Club and that for the remainder of October, Hyatt would benefit through all new members.

By sharing his link via social channels and his own website and promoting the Volunteer Club, Jalin will receive 20% of recurring monthly membership dues until exhausting his eligibility. To draw attention to the platform they partnered with Hyatt to offer him 100% of the first month’s subscription from anyone that signs up using his unique link for the remainder of October.

That burst promotion netted Hyatt a healthy profit as appreciation for his generational performance.

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A post shared by The Volunteer Club 🪶 (@thevolclub)

Back in July, Spyre took quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Cedric Tillman to New York for NIL education. The trip saw both athletes end up on a billboard in Times Square and so much more. They took part in the Nasdaq and were able to cultivate relationships through additional meetings that will help them going forward.

“What a great opportunity,” Heupel said at SEC Media Days in July. “Isn’t that what the collegiate experience is about, is exposing and giving kids opportunities way outside of the realm of what they would normally have to grow professionally and personally.”