Illinois Launches INFLUENCE to Prepare Athletes for NIL Changes

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced today the launch of INFLUENCE powered by Opendorse Ready, the market-leading Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) readiness program.

Available to all Illinois student-athletes, INFLUENCE is a comprehensive student-athlete development program designed to prepare Illini student-athletes to positively influence their brands and platforms in the Name, Image, and Likeness world. 

The program is grounded in education, development, and practice in three foundational areas: Brand Strategy & Development, Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Financial Literacy. With experience maximizing endorsement value for thousands of professional athletes since 2012, Opendorse Ready provides proven marketing solutions to prepare student-athletes for coming changes to NIL policy.

The agreement positions Illinois among the first 20 athletic departments nationwide to join Opendorse Ready. The Fighting Illini join Clemson, Florida, Nebraska, and Louisville, among others. By joining now, Illinois Athletics is able to bring the NIL readiness solutions to every student-athlete at the University.

The program provides three core pillars to student-athlete success - each tailored to assist each individual athlete:

ASSESSMENT

Provide each student-athlete with an in-depth analysis of ‘social media health,’ featuring personalized insights and valuation of their social media Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

EDUCATION

From benchmarks to tools and personal planning, student-athletes receive education emphasizing the opportunity and the next steps in the process for maximizing the value of their NIL.

PERFORMANCE

Now it’s time to put their personal insights and education into practice. The best part is they’re doing so alongside our Guides with proven experience delivering high-performing social campaigns.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to expand on our longterm partnership with Illinois Athletics,” Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence said. “This program has embraced the value of building student-athletes’ personal brands for years, and is now ready to bring their athletes even more value as we enter the NIL era.”

Founded by Nebraska Football alumni Blake Lawrence and Adi Kunalic, Opendorse has become a proven market leader in helping sports organizations and their athletes prepare and execute social media programs to increase the value of their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). More than 30,000 athletes currently use Opendorse to maximize their endorsement value in collaboration with partners on social media. Opendorse has partnered with the NHL, NFLPA, NBPA, PGA Tour and others while brands like Pepsi, Procter & Gamble and EA Sports also use the platform. 

About Opendorse
Opendorse powers the athlete endorsement ecosystem. Today more than 30,000 athletes around the world use the sports technology company to build their personal brands by publishing social media content from partners including 100+ college athletics programs, dozens of professional teams, the PGA TOUR, NHL, NFLPA, NBPA, and hundreds of sponsors.

The platform is purpose-built for athletes make the most of their moment and to capture the massive opportunity at-hand with the organizations they’re connected to. From All-Americans to All-Pros – when athletes maximize endorsement value alongside their partners and organizations – they do it with Opendorse.