2026 100 Most Influential People in the NIL Space
By: Silver Waves Media
After months of research, our committee has put together a list of some of the most impactful figures in the NIL space. These people represent a diverse array of executives, athletes, and thought leaders who have shaped the landscape of collegiate sports and athlete endorsement. These individuals have leveraged their platforms to navigate the complexities of NIL rights, challenging traditional norms and paving the way for student-athletes to monetize their personal brands. We present the 100 Most Influential People in the NIL Space list.
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Aaron Torres
FOX Sports Radio
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Adam Breneman
The College Sports Company
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Andrew Braccia
Accel
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Andrew Petcash
Profluence
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Andrew Pitagorsky
SLAM
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Andrew Spano
The College Sports Company
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Archie McEachern
PUMA
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Austin Elrod
TheLinkU
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Ayden Syal
MOGL
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Bill Jula
Postgame
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Blake Lawrence
Opendorse
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Branden MacKinnon
AoA
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Bryan Freedman
Liner Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, LLP
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Bryan Seeley
College Sports Commision
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Charlie Baker
NCAA
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Christian Dawkins
Seros Partners
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Cody Campbell
Texas Tech University System
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Dan Furman
502Circle
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Daniel Libit
Sportico
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Dan Shell
Total Sports Consulting
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Daniel Poneman
WEAVE
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Darren Heitner
Heitner Legal
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Dash Sperling
Open Gym Premier
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Derek Eiler
Fanatics
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Doug Fillis
Accelerate Sport Ventures
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Ed Kull
St. John’s
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Ed Scott
Memphis
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Gabe Hekmatniaz
NXTUP Hoops / WEAVE
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Garrett Broshuis
Korein Tillery
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Garth Glissman
SEC
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Gary M. Sumers
Philanthropist
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Glenn Sugiyama
DHR Global
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Greg Kristof
Sixth Sense Consulting
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Greg Sankey
SEC
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Heath Schroyer
LSU
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Hunter Baddour
Spyre Sports Group / The Volunteer Club
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J Batt
Kentucky
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Jai Lucas
Miami
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Jason Belzer
AthleticDirectorU
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Jason Booker
Kansas
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Jeff Kaufman
Coronado High School
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Jeffrey Kessler
Winston & Strawn
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Jennifer Cohen
USC
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Jimmy Sexton
CAA
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Joe Tipton
Rivals / On3 Sports
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Joe Wootten
McDonald’s All-American Game
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John Stovall
Nike
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John Tyson
Chairman, Tyson Foods
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Jon Bishop
Playfly Sports
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Jon Scheyer
Duke
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Kaitee Daley
ESPN
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Kayla Rogers
Rally / Notre Dame
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Kevin Barefoot
Teamworks
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Landon Goesling
TheLinkU
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Lane Kiffin
LSU
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Maddie Salamone
Sports Attorney and College Athlete Advocate
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Marcus Crenshaw
The FAM Sports Agency
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Mark Cuban
Entrepreneur & Investor
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Mark Few
Gonzaga
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Matt Reynolds
NXTPRO Sports / PUMA PRO16
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Michael Haddix Jr.
Scout
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Michael McCann
Sports Law Professor & Legal Analyst
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Micah Kinsler
MiCamp Solutions
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Mike Repole
St. John’s Booster
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Mike Villagrana
Happy Valley United
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Min Kim
Nutricost
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Mit Winter
Kennyhertz Perry Law
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Mitch Gilfillan
Quinn Johnston Law Firm
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Nick Garner
Two Circles
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Nigel Carter
WEAVE
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Nikki Balich
Arizona Sports Commission
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Noah Reisenfeld
21 Sports and Entertainment Inc
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Olivia Nuss
Head of Legal and Business Affairs of SANIL
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Pete Bevacqua
Notre Dame
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Pete Nakos
On3 Sports
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Peter Robert Casey
JDS Sports
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Rachel Baker
Duke University
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Rafi Goldman
Under Armour
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Rashid Ghazi
Paragon Sports Marketing
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Richard Kent
Sports Lawyer & NIL Professor
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Rick Pitino
St. John’s
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Rob Sine
Blueprint Sports
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Rocco Miller
College Basketball Analyst
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Ross Dellenger
Yahoo Sports
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Ross Silver
Sylva Partners
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Ryan Downton
The Texas Trial Group
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Sam Green
AthleteCon
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Scott Dolson
Indiana
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Sean Miller
Texas
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Seth Berger
Players Era
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Shannon Terry
On3
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Solly Fulp
LEARFIELD
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Steve Berman
Hagens Berman
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Tate Gillespie
Players Health
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Ted Cruz
United States Senator Texas
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Ted Curvy
Nike
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Terri Lynn Wootten
McDonald’s All-American Game
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Todd Golden
Florida
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Tom Mars
Collegiate Sports Attorney
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Tony Petitti
Big Ten Conference
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Tor Watts
Under Armour
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Tyler Rutstein
Under Armour
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Walker Jones
Ole Miss Collective
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Will Wade
LSU