Bijan Robinson receiving NIL mentorship from Texas Longhorns legend

The new Name, Image, and Likeness rules have drastically impacted the college athletics landscape. Some high-profile athletes are making substantial amounts of money on NIL deals. Texas Longhorns star running back Bijan Robinson has been getting advice from a former Texas football legend in Earl Campbell, according to ESPN’s Dave Wilson.

Earl Campbell: New NIL deals are ‘the proper thing to do’

Campbell rushed for 4,443 yards and 40 touchdowns in four seasons with Texas. He was a consensus All-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1977. The Houston Oilers selected Campbell first overall in the 1978 NFL Draft. For Campbell, he is glad to see the NCAA allowing athletes to make money with NIL deals. He has been able to serve as a mentor for Robinson.

“I told him there’s a lot of money to be made in this,” Campbell said. “What the NCAA is doing with these young men is the proper thing to do. When I came to college at UT from Tyler, Texas, I left a mother, six brothers and four sisters. There’s no way my mother could have helped me in college. If I would’ve had something like this in college, it would’ve made a big difference in my life. The NCAA has gotten rich enough. Guys like myself have made them billions.”

Robinson: Campbell has been a ‘role model for me’

As a former first overall pick of the NFL, Campbell knows a few things about making money off of your name. As Robinson grows into a star at Texas, having Campbell’s guidance has been great.

“He’s a role model for me in the NIL stuff,” Robinson said. “He did all those business deals in the NFL. Those are the same kinds of things I’m trying to do right now.”

Campbell is able to frequently attend Texas practices. Some coaches today don’t want players like Campbell spending too much time around their teams. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is an exception to that idea.

“These college coaches don’t seem to want guys around these young men like a Ricky Williams or an Earl Campbell,” said Campbell. “I don’t know if it’s intimidating to them. But one thing about Sarkisian, he reached out his hand, and I think that made the players feel comfortable and it made me feel comfortable.”

Robinson is one of the most marketable players in all of college football. He is likely to continue racking up deals as he plays a major role on the Texas offense.