Rutgers Athletics announces new "R NIL" initiative for Homecoming weekend
Early Monday morning, Rutgers Athletics announced the makings of a new Name, Image, and Likeness initiative called R NIL, as businesses can now go directly through Rutgers University to ink brand ambassador deals with Scarlet Knights student-athletes.
With the launch, Zinn spoke with several members of the media to break down exactly what is R NIL, how it will work and the latest on where Rutgers stands with name, image and likeness.
“Rutgers now has a robust NIL infrastructure, so this is a huge week for us,” Zinn told the media. “I think this is absolutely a turning point in what will now be everything that we need here in order to compete at the highest level. I’m not aware of any athletics department across the country that has had a significant amount of success or even sustained success over the past number of years since NIL became a focal point. So it feels good to now be there in a place where we have the infrastructure to support it and move it forward in a way that I know is going to be really successful.”
What does this bring to Rutgers?
Previously, fans would have to donate to an outside source – a collective – that did not go through the university itself, but would help to acquire and retain talented student-athletes. However, with the new revenue-sharing deal now in play, a lot of that has moved in-house to go through the schools themselves, given the new NIL Go rules.
“We brought in-house our name, image, and likeness infrastructure,” said Zinn. “The Knights of the Raritan, you saw, are now sunsetting and will not function externally to us as they have before. And the next biggest piece is personnel, right? You’ll see as early as next week, two staff members in particular, one external hire, and an internal promotion that will support name, image, and likeness. Then in the coming months we will bring in-house an additional team of people, both internally supporting the day-to-day operations of NIL, but then externally sellers within SAMCO [Scarlet Asset Management Company] to actually go out and get those opportunities.”
The new movement will also feature some new faces in the athletic department, as well.
“Right now we only have two, but I’d like to see at least an additional four full-time staff, which includes, again, those that are going to sell,” Zinn added. “You’ll see one or two come online in that space and then operationally, we are likely to see some upgrades within our content and external digital videography, graphics, you name it, to support NIL.”
Two months into her tenure, Rutgers’ new athletic director is optimistic about the level of financial commitment from the Scarlet Knights’ fanbase.
“I think where this is encouraging, when you look at the history, what I’ve recognized is there are people out there willing to support,” said Zinn. “We have very successful businesses and corporations, donors who in some cases are no longer permitted to support NIL directly from themselves, but may be connected to an organization or a business that’s willing to move that forward in a way that it’s now permissible and we’re able to utilize it within the new clearinghouse and NIL Go. And that is the piece that’s been really optimistic over the past two months. As early as week one, I started working in this space externally, and up to this point, there’s not one person who’s told me no.”
“R NIL” will be the athletic department’s business end, while fans can support individually through the RFund’s Athletic Excellence Fund.
Rutgers Coach Reactions
“Supporting our players through NIL has never been more important. We are excited about the plan in place to elevate Rutgers to the next level. It will take all of us coming together.” — Rutgers Football head coach Greg Schiano
“R NIL will be an unbelievable resource and provides an avenue for our fans to come together to support our student-athletes. I’m proud of the way our administration is finding ways to help us compete in the name, image, and likeness space.” — Rutgers Men’s Basketball head coach Steve Pikiell
“R NIL gives our community a chance to come together in support of our Scarlet Knights, celebrating their hard work on the court, in the classroom and beyond. I’m excited to see how NIL continues to empower our players and strengthen the bond between our program and Rutgers Nation.” — Rutgers Women’s Basketball head coach Coquese Washington
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