Dec. 18, 2024

Ferris State partners with national firm to help student-athletes navigate emerging NIL landscape

Ferris State University is partnering with Opendorse, a firm that helps student-athletes maintain NCAA compliance while capitalizing on their names, images, and likenesses.

The firm will teach student-athletes how to build their personal brand and connect with companies, educate them on the tax implications, and help maintain NCAA compliance and eligibility requirements.

Name, image, and likeness – often shortened to NIL – refers to the ways in which student athletes can receive financial compensation for the use of their names and photos in marketing and promotion.   

Opendorse provides an online hub and mobile app that provides technology and services to cover student-athletes and staff with compliance, content, and educational tools that will be used in the developing NIL landscape.

Ferris State Athletics will receive a branded marketplace as part of the partnership. Fans, brands, sponsors, and donors will be able to browse, book, pitch and pay any Bulldog student-athlete for NIL activities in one compliant platform.

"We're excited to partner with Opendorse to enhance the name, image and likeness opportunities for all of our Bulldog student-athletes," Ferris State Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank said. “This is an important partnership for us now as NIL continues to grow in importance at all levels. For us to continue to enjoy championship success we have achieved, it's critical that we move forward and continue to be a leader in this area."

The company, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, partners with more than 150,000 student-athletes at colleges including Kansas, Oregon, Nebraska, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and UCONN.

“We're thrilled to work with Ferris State Athletics to provide best-in-class NIL opportunities," Opendorse co-founder and President of Collegiate Operations Blake Lawrence said. "Whether it's best practices and resources for Ferris State staff and coaches, deals and education for Bulldog student-athletes, or access and information for supporters, it's all covered. This is a new era of college athletics and Ferris State is continuing to position themselves for excellence – on and off the field."

Ferris State student-athletes will receive an Opendorse profile, which they can customize and promote on their personal social media channels. Athletes review opportunities, receive deals, accept compensation, and disclose NIL activities to their institution, all within the Opendorse app.

"Nothing is more important to our administration than providing the best experience to our student-athletes,” Ferris State Senior Associate Athletics Director Sara Higley said.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to not only providing our student-athletes with enhanced NIL opportunities, but also ensuring they have the proper education and tools to navigate these opportunities while maintaining full NCAA compliance and eligibility.”