With the Supreme Court’s Alston decision in 2021 opening up the NIL market for students, big changes are coming for college athletes. The unanimous ruling found that the NCAA was in gross violation of antitrust laws and illegally restricted athletes’ compensation.

This decision is a consequential win in the fight for the rights of student-athletes. According to NIL agent and sports marketer Jaxon Curtis, “Being a student-athlete just got a lot more lucrative.” He believes that the emerging NIL market will produce untold opportunities and benefits for a group that has been exploited and underpaid for far too long. “This is the beginning of a new era of opportunity for college players,” he says.

Introducing NIL Agent Jaxon Curtis

Jaxon Curtis began his career in sales as a manager and trainer. Eventually, he acted on his passion for sports and marketing by taking a leap and transitioning to a career in the sports industry. He became an NIL agent for Oncoor Sports, a sports marketing firm that works with athletes to build strong, long-lasting brands. With clients in the NFL, NBA, and UFC, Oncoor is a trusted name in the sports marketing industry. The company also specializes in influencer marketing and social media branding services. 

Jaxon has been an advocate for the rights of student-athletes for years, and now, he has the opportunity to help them take control of their future. 

Building Brands and Partnerships for College Athletes

In the wake of the Alston decision, up-and-coming athletes need guidance in navigating the world of new NIL opportunities that have been unlocked. With his networking skills and intimate knowledge of the industry, Jaxon specializes in connecting brands to college athletes, helping athletes build their personal brands, and finding deals and endorsements. 

From local shops to big-name brands, partnering with a company is part of the game in the modern sports market; Jaxon helps athletes forge critical connections that can propel a college athlete’s career. He also organizes autograph signings, social media sponsorships, and community service events.

The Value of Patience in Brand-Building

Patience is a virtue, especially in the philosophy of brand-building: as Jaxon points out, many athletes tend to “go crazy with promotions” when they need to focus on building a strong brand first. “They need to get involved in their community and post regularly for several months before participating in endorsement deals,” he explains. “Athletes shouldn’t expect tons of brand deals to come flooding in if they haven’t spent considerable time building at least one of their social platforms.” Not only do athletes need a following, but they also need engagement on their platform for a brand to consider partnering with them.

The Importance of Proper Compensation

Jaxon has another piece of honest advice for emerging athletes seeking connections and branding opportunities: never post or promote something without being clearly guaranteed compensation. Many brands will offer free products or merch in exchange for promotion on social media, but according to Jaxon, these deals are “fairly one-sided” depending on what the athlete is receiving. NIL partnerships should always outline payment terms, contract length, posting requirements, athlete deliverables, in clear and specific terms.

Advocating for Student-Athletes

Over the course of the next few years, Jaxon will be working hard to help athletes build their brand and form partnerships. As an ardent advocate for student-athletes, he hopes to continue helping young athletes benefit from their own name, image, and likeness for years to come. 

After graduating from Utah State with a degree in Finance, Jaxon Curtis gained valuable sales and management experience before building his dream career as a sports marketer. He now works as an NIL agent for Oncoor Sports.  When he isn’t working, he spends time with his wife, plays basketball, and attends sporting events. His favorite teams are the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Utah Jazz.

Learn more about Jaxon Curtis’ work on his official website. Follow Jaxon on Instagram and LinkedIn.