College athletes are hard at work every day, but they rarely have ever gotten anything but recognition. However, things have changed for them once and for all as now the NCAA has finally allowed them to make profits off their persona and be rewarded for the same. This is a huge change for college athletes, which opens new doors of possibilities for one and all. 

They can now take under their wings sponsored content, be featured on advertisements, and have compensation for their talent and skills. James Velissaris himself was a football player in his days back at Harvard. Being a college athlete once, he firmly believes that these young individuals have the right to be benefited financially. 

The ban on college athletes being able to make financial gains were long-standing in an attempt to preserve amateurism. This meant that since these athletes are not professional players, they did not have the ability or right of accepting money from outside. 

Until now, college athletes were only provided with stipends and scholarships, which were considered sufficient by the NCAA. However, things have changed now as the rules have been completely overturned, meaning that Division 1 Athletes will now be able to receive compensation based on their name, image, and likeness or NIL. Before this, any compensation received led to losing eligibility or even being suspended for college athletes. 

College Athletes can use their NIL or their fame for good and earn money for it now. In practical terms, this may have different interpretations for different people. What the change in the rule allows for is the ability for college athletes to be able to use their celebrity status in exchange for financial or non-financial gains without losing their eligibility.  

This means that student-athletes will be able to post sponsored content on their social media pages and be in advertisements as brand ambassadors of companies. They can now make money off sponsored videos on youtube or Twitter as well. They can also be formally hired by training camps, or they might even charge money for their merchandise and autograph. 

How this rule can be implemented in real life varies from person to person, and the possibilities are truly limitless. They can basically make deals with major companies for money and be appreciated for their caliber. Besides this, athletes will now also be able to hire agents who can help them use their NIL to the fullest. 

While this rule has the potential to help college athletes in realizing their dreams while also getting paid for their genius, it does come with some considerations. The rule had been uplifted for third-party deals only, and the involvement of the college in such deals is still something to be navigated with care. 

Critics have made various positive as well as negative comments regarding the implementation of this rule, specifically because it involves college students who are still young and learning their way around the real world. But James Velissaris, a poker and football player and also a great investor, sees this initiative as a great avenue for financial gain. 

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