In The Now

So you received an offer what now?

Types of College Offers You Might Receive

Verbal Offer

A verbal offer is a non-binding scholarship or roster spot promise made by a coach, often during or before your junior year. These offers are informal, and while they are exciting, they do not guarantee a spot on the team or any financial aid.

Official Offer

An official offer is a formal, written scholarship offer typically extended to an athlete after they’ve completed an official campus visit or as they approach their senior year. It used to culminate in signing the National Letter of Intent (NLI)—a binding agreement between athlete and school—but the NLI was removed as of October 9, 2024. Athletes now secure their commitment by signing a financial agreement directly with the institution.

Committable Offer

A committable offer is an offer that the athlete can accept right away, and the coach will honor it. Accepting this offer typically means that:

A roster spot is guaranteed
A scholarship (if applicable) is available for you
The coaching staff has officially greenlit your commitment
You may even receive NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities bundled with this offer

⚠️ Even with a committable offer, nothing is final until you’ve signed the financial aid agreement with the school.

Non-Committable Offer

A non-committable offer may sound like an offer, but you can’t accept it just yet. Coaches use these to show interest but may be waiting to:

See more of your performance
Get approval from admissions or staff
Finalize other roster decisions

These offers:

Can turn into committable offers
Can be pulled if circumstances change
May not include guaranteed scholarship funds

Think of this as a “you’re on our radar” message, but with no guarantees until further notice.

Important Note: A College Offer Is Not Official Until You Sign

Now that you or your child has received a verbal offer, here’s what you need to know:

A verbal college offer does not guarantee that you will be able to attend or play for that school. These offers are non-binding and can be revoked or changed by the coach. Likewise, you are not officially committed until you sign a financial agreement with the university.

Here’s why verbal or non-committable offers might not hold:

Coaching Changes – If the coach who made the offer leaves, a new coach might not honor it.
Roster Changes – Other recruits may take limited spots.
Academic Eligibility – You still must meet GPA, test score, and NCAA eligibility requirements.
Performance Issues – Injury or underperformance can change your standing.

How to Protect Your Offer

Stay in regular contact with the coaching staff.
Continue to perform academically and athletically.
Ask if the offer is committable – don’t be afraid to clarify.
Push to get your offer in writing as early as possible.

Why Do Athletes Choose JUCO?

Academic Improvement – If a player doesn’t meet NCAA eligibility requirements, JUCO allows them to improve grades and qualify for a four-year school later.

Skill Development – Some athletes use JUCO to get stronger, faster, and gain more experience before transferring to an NCAA Division 1 or 2 program : to NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, or NAIA program

Recruiting & Exposure – If a player didn’t get many offers in high school, performing well at JUCO can lead to recruitment by bigger programs.

Cost Savings – JUCO schools are typically more affordable, making them a good option financially.

Transfer Portal/NIL –With the transfer Portal and NIL continuously growing college coaches will be more inclined to recruit players from JUCO because they will not lose NCAA ELigibility anymore

JUCO to Division 1 Pathway

Many JUCO athletes transfer to NCAA Division 1, Division 2, Division, or NAIA programs after 1-2 years.
Schools like Iowa Western, Hutchinson CC, and East Mississippi CC have strong JUCO pipelines to D1.
Top JUCO athletes can still go pro—NFL, NBA, and MLB all have JUCO players who made it big (e.g., Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton).

A Post-Grad Prep School (or Prep Academy) is a school that offers student-athletes an extra year of development after high school before enrolling in college. It’s not the same as a JUCO, as post-grad athletes do not lose any college eligibility.

Why Choose a Post-Grad Prep School?

Improve Recruiting Opportunities – If your athlete didn’t get the Division 1 offers they wanted, an extra year can help them gain exposure.

Boost Academics – Prep schools help athletes improve grades or test scores to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

Physical & Skill Development – An extra year allows for strength training and refining skills before competing at the college level.

Key Differences: JUCO vs. PREP

Feature	Post-Grad Prep School	JUCO
Eligibility	Does NOT use college eligibility	Does NOT use college eligibility
Duration	1 year max	Up to 2 years
Degree	No college degree	Associate’s degree possible
NCAA Path	Prepares for NCAA	Can transfer to NCAA after JUCO
Competition Level	Plays against other prep schools	Plays in NJCAA/CCCAA leagues

What does Payment look Like IN NIL

Example of a True NIL Payment from a Collective

Grant of License. Subject to the conditions and limitations contained herein, Athlete grants to Company the right and license during the Term of this Agreement to use Athlete’s name, image and likeness, in any and every form that may be contemplated (the “Image Rights”) in conjunction with the Services as contemplated herein on an exclusive basis. The use of Athlete’s Image Rights during the Term is granted for appropriately related promotions on television and radio, outdoor (billboard, transit and bus shelters), social media, internet, web-based or online advertising; on-demand, online/virtual, live promotions and appearances, press releases, and print campaigns (“Approved Media”), subject to Athlete’s reasonable approval. It is expressly agreed that Company’s right to use the Image Rights, or any created materials including correlated to the Image Rights, shall be extinguished upon the expiration or termination of the Term, except in the instance where unsold goods or merchandise exist at the expiration or termination of the Term, whereby such goods or merchandise may continue to be sold.

For Cause by Company: Company may terminate this Agreement if Student-Athlete engages in actions deemed by Company or the University to be detrimental to Company, the University, or any Partner, including, but not limited to:
(i) Conduct that damages or could reasonably be expected to damage the reputation of Company or any Partner;
(ii) violation of state or federal laws;
(iii) violation of the SEC Serious Misconduct Policy or the University’s Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy;
(iv) violation of other rules or policies of the University, the SEC, or the NCAA (e.g., academic policies or standards, student code of conduct, team rules or policies);
(v) voluntarily discontinuing participation in Student-Athlete’s sport(s) or otherwise neglecting team requirements or choosing not to participate (as determined in the reasonable discretion of the University by, c.g., not reporting to practice, making only token appearances, etc.);
(vi) engaging in any other conduct or action that adversely affects Student-Athlete’s NIL or Property value as determined by Company or the University.
(vii) failing to enroll (and remain enrolled) at the University for the first semester/session that Student-Athlete is eligible to enroll or failing to enroll (and remaining enrolled) in each subsequent semester/session during the Term;
(viii) ceasing to be a member of an athletics team at the University;
(ix) being charged with, arrested for, found guilty of, or pleading guilty to illegal or criminal
conduct or otherwise commits, or being publicly alleged to have committed any act, or becoming involved in any situation which does or could bring the University into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule, or which does or could insult or offend the community or any class or group thereof;

Clear Deliverables

The athlete should be asked to fulfill specific duties or provide tangible value in exchange for the compensation, such as social media posts, appearances, endorsements, and/or other promotional activities.

A collective might set up a deal where a local business pays a basketball player $10,000 for:

Instagram: Posting 3 times over the next month about the business.

Public Appearance: Attending a local charity event to promote the business.

Video Ad: Filming a 30-second ad for the business to be posted online.

The athlete earns $10,000 for this package of work, which is tied to their name, image, and likeness. The payment is compliant with NIL rules because it’s not based on athletic performance, but on the athlete’s ability to promote a product and engage with their fans.

What’s Real Money vs. Fluff:

Read the Contract: The contract should specify whether the athlete is getting direct cash payments for specific actions (like posts or events). If the payment is only linked to perks or goods, it may not have immediate financial value.
Look for Clear Payment Terms: Identify whether the payments are cash, discounts, or performance-based.
Assess Long-Term Value: Consider if any long-term equity or future deals are part of the agreement, and whether these are guaranteed or speculative.
Evaluate Exposure Claims: Be wary of deals promising only exposure without guaranteed cash or real revenue. Exposure is valuable but may not lead to immediate financial benefits.

Perks, Goods, or Discounts (Sometimes Considered Fluff)

Some NIL agreements may include perks or goods instead of or in addition to cash. While they can be valuable, these may not always be considered “real money” because they don’t provide direct financial benefit or liquid cash. The value of goods or perks may also be inflated or exaggerated.

How to identify perks or “fluff”:

Non-cash compensation that’s valuable but not directly liquid (e.g., free products, services, or accommodations).
Free gear or products that may be used by the athlete, but may not be of immediate cash value.
Discounts on items or services rather than direct payment.

Examples of fluff:

Free merchandise (like shoes, apparel, or equipment) from a sponsor.
Tickets to events, or free accommodations, like hotel stays during a promotional event.
Discounts on services or products that may or may not be used by the athlete.

An agent has reached out to us Now what !!

Look for Red Flags

Upfront Fees – Agents should earn commissions from deals, not from you directly.
Unrealistic Promises – “I’ll make your son a millionaire overnight!” – No one can guarantee that.
Pressure to Sign Quickly – A reputable agent won’t rush you.
Lack of Transparency – If they won’t disclose their clients, fees, or contracts, walk away.

Look at Their Track Record

Have they negotiated successful NIL deals for other athletes?
Do they have relationships with reputable brands?
Are their past clients satisfied?

Verify Their Intentions

Are they focused on your son’s best interests or just making a quick commission?
Are they offering realistic NIL opportunities?

Ask Direct Questions

“What brands and opportunities are you considering for my son?”
“What percentage do you take from deals?” (In line with industry Standards?)
“Are you connected with collectives or universities?”