Rutgers Nation,
It has been 18 months since the NCAA issued its initial guidance with respect to allowing student-athletes to benefit financially from the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL). During that time, we’ve built the R Edge infrastructure to support our student-athletes in their efforts. We have engaged several third-party entities like Opendorse, INFLCR and BrandR to assist our students. We continue to meet with individuals and organizations to determine how they might also support our student-athletes. Many have secured significant opportunities as a result.
Recently, the NCAA issued additional guidance which allows universities greater ability to encourage their fanbases to support student-athletes in these endeavors. The rules continue to prohibit Rutgers and its employees from representing student-athletes or negotiating deals on their behalf, but provides new avenues for us to work with you to assist our student-athletes with their NIL activities.
Rutgers Nation is a passionate fanbase. Together we are writing the next great chapter. I know you want to support our Scarlet Knights in any way you can. I encourage you to explore ways in which you, your business or your contacts might benefit from engaging our student-athletes in NIL opportunities, either directly, through collectives such as The Knights of the Raritan and The Knight Society, or otherwise. My compliance team stands ready to assist you in navigating this new and evolving landscape. Visit our
R Edge website at ScarletKnights.com/NIL to learn more.
It is an exciting time to be a Scarlet Knight. Our student-athletes know they are receiving a world-class education at Rutgers while they compete at the highest level in the athletic arena. I have long said that our student-athletes are our greatest ambassadors, they can be yours as well. Let’s do everything we can to support our student-athletes. Go RU!
Patrick Hobbs
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Rutgers University
