Democratize College Athletics

icon-arrow-left2023 NIL Awards icon-arrow-right

Student Athlete NIL is proud to announce the nominations for the Inaugural NIL Awards, recognizing exceptional achievement by student-athletes, brands and institutions during the first year of name, image and likeness. The NIL Awards gala ceremony will take place on the evening of Saturday, June 3 at the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the Inaugural NIL Summit.

selection committee

Nicole Auerbach
Alexis Barlow
Jim Cavale
Kristi Dosh
Nick Marquez
Monique Nelson
Darren Rovell
Andy Wittry

Award Categories And Nominees

Female Athlete of the Year

This award recognizes the female student-athletes that have exhibited the best use of their Name, Image, and Likeness. Judges will consider student-athletes that have best leveraged their NIL across multiple activations, platforms and campaigns to create maximum impact for their partners.

Maya Brady
UCLA
Anna Camden
Penn State
Emily Cole
Duke
Alexa Hendricks
Louisville
Haley Jones
Stanford
Morgan Leigh Oldham
Auburn
Trinity Thomas
Florida
Hailey Van Lith
Louisville

Presented by:

Male Athlete of the Year

This award recognizes the male student-athletes that have exhibited the best use of their Name, Image, and Likeness. Judges will consider student-athletes that have best leveraged their NIL across multiple activations, platforms and campaigns to create maximum impact for their partners.

Armando Bacot
North Carolina
Brock Bowers
Georgia
Hansel Enmanuel
Northwestern State
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Indiana
Mitchell Pehlke
Ohio State
Spencer Rattler
South Carolina
John Seaton
Elon
Caleb Williams
Southern California

Innovator of the Year

This award recognizes the student-athlete that has best exemplified innovation and creativity through novel usage of their Name, Image and Likeness to generate tremendous value for their partners and/or themselves.
Barney Amor
Penn State
General Booty
Oklahoma
Flau'jae Johnson
LSU
Tori Ortiz
Oklahoma State
Emma Weyant
Florida
Riley White
Alabama

Presented by:

Hustle Award

This award recognizes the student-athlete that utilized an unrelenting determination combined with entrepreneurial savvy, to excel in their Name, Image and Likeness endeavors off the field or court.

Jack Betts
Amherst
Cameron Brink
Stanford
Mikala Hall
Central Michigan
Ziyah Holman
Michigan
Angel Reese
LSU
Terian Williams
Stanford

Presented by:

Scholar Athlete of the Year

This award recognizes the student-athlete that achieved exceptional results in the classroom and in their respective sport, while maximizing their Name, Image and Likeness for the greater good.
Caitie Baird
Stanford
Caitlin Clark
Iowa
Jalon Daniel's
Kansas
Tanner Groves
Oklahoma
Jaden Owens
Baylor
Lexi Rodriguez
Nebraska

Presented by:

Athlete Advocate of the Year

This award recognizes the student-athlete that has best leveraged their Name, Image and Likeness to create substantial impact towards their community, non-profit, and/or philanthropic causes.
Deslin Alexandre
Pittsburgh
Blake Corum
Michigan
Marvin Harrison, Jr.
Ohio State
Chloe Marotta
Marquette
Paul Mulcahy
Rutgers
Max Shulga
Utah State

Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

This award recognizes the student-athlete that, following one or more outstanding performances on the field or court, took advantage of the moment to maximize their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities.
Tommy Brown
Dieunerst Collin
Lake Erie
Jessica Gardner
Nebraska
Keyonte Johnson
Kansas State
Alijah Martin
Florida Atlantic
Mia Mastrov
California
Grace McCallum
Utah
Hannah White
Cleveland State

Presented by:

Highschool Athlete Of The Year

This award recognizes male and female student-athletes that have exhibited the best use of their Name, Image, and Likeness on the high school level. Judges will consider student-athletes that have best leveraged their NIL across multiple activations, platforms and campaigns to create maximum impact for their partners.
Harper Murray
Skyline HS | Nebraska
Malachi Nelson
Los Alamitos | Southern Cal
Alyssa & Gisele Thompson
Harvard - Westlake | Stanford
Jada Williams
La Jolla | Arizona
Sahara Williams
Waterloo West | Oklahoma

Presented by:

Best individual Campaign

This award recognizes a brand or organization who showed excellence in collaborating with a single or small number of student-athletes at one or more schools, and across multiple media channels (print, digital, etc.) to generate maximum impact and consumer conversation.
Cheez-It
Hotel
Popeeye's
Memes to Dreams
Pringles
March Mustache
Serious Bean Co
Jason Bean
Shinesty
Tommy Brown
SOS Heating & Cooling
Decoldest Crawford
No data was found

Best Group Campaign

This award recognizes a brand or organization who showed excellence in collaboration with a team of student-athletes at one or more schools, and across multiple media channels (print, digital, etc.) to generate maximum impact and consumer conversation.
Reese's University
Team Dunkin
Taco Bell Live Mas
All Vote No Play
Meta Empower 2.0
Bumble 50for50

Best Institutional Program

This award recognizes a college or institution that has shown exceptional commitment to supporting its student-athletes in maximizing their Name, Image and Likeness opportunities through a combination of education, resources and industry-leading innovation.
Clemson
Delaware
Kansas
Michigan State
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Purdue
Santa Clara

Brand Of The Year

This award recognizes creative excellence by a brand or organization for collaboration with a student-athlete. Judges will award the brand that has demonstrated how partnership, creativity, and novel activation in NIL can drive exceptional results and engagement.
Adidas
Hooters
HR Block
Kellogg’s
Rasing Cane’s
Wrangler

Presented by: