Sophomores Cayla Jackson (soccer) and Demetrius John (football) represented the Fighting Illini at the inaugural NCAA Legacy Lab, a national leadership and entrepreneurship experience designed to help student-athletes explore how their experiences in sport can translate into meaningful impact beyond athletics.
Held February 26-March 1, 2026 in Indianapolis, the four-day program brought together 41 Division I sophomore and junior student-athletes from across the country to engage with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and former athletes while exploring entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal brand development.
Throughout the program, participants explored how their experiences as athletes can serve as a foundation for future opportunities and influence beyond the playing field.
Representing Illinois on a National Stage
For both student-athletes, the experience of attending Legacy Lab was meaningful and energizing.
Jackson reflected on the pride she felt representing the University.
"It was wonderful to represent the University of Illinois in such a great way," Jackson said. "Being surrounded by so many like-minded individuals who were familiar with the University and being able to create bonds with them allowed me to truly embrace my University's pride. I already have an immense sense of pride to be an Illini, so this was great icing on the cake."
John shared a similar perspective, emphasizing the significance of connecting with peers from across the country who share similar aspirations beyond athletics.
"It was an honor for me to attend Legacy Lab and represent both my university and my team throughout the experience," John shared. "Participating alongside other athletes with the same aspirations helped me realize the amazing opportunity I was a part of."
Exploring Personal Branding and Entrepreneurship
As part of the program, participants selected specialized learning tracks designed to help them explore different pathways for leadership, innovation, and personal brand development.
Jackson participated in the Blueprint to Breakthrough track, which introduced student-athletes to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and the early stages of building a personal brand.
"I was able to sit in and obtain knowledge from speakers at all different levels with a wide range of experiences," Jackson said. "It truly inspired me to take action in wanting to dive deeper into my personal branding."
John chose the Brand in Motion track, which focused on helping student-athletes better understand and leverage their platform and identity.
"The track helped me understand how I can leverage the value I have as a student-athlete," John said. "It resonated with me because I'm always interested in improving my personal brand."
Powerful Lessons Beyond Sport
In addition to the learning tracks, keynote speakers and conversations throughout the program encouraged student-athletes to think more intentionally about how they use their voice and platform.
Both Jackson and John identified a keynote presentation from Jeremiah Brown as one of the most impactful moments of the program.
"Hearing Jeremiah Brown speak was very influential," Jackson said. "Listening to how he has impacted the world beyond his sport resonated with me. I make it a point to be more than solely an athlete, and his story was a true representation of that."
John also found Brown's message particularly meaningful, especially his emphasis on using influence to create change.
"His speech about the importance of using your voice to bring change was the most impactful to me," John said. "It helped me realize how important it is to use your platform to inspire others."
Another key takeaway for John was the importance of relationships and collaboration outside of sport.
"I learned the importance of networking and working effectively based on your strengths and others' strengths," he said. "It helped me step out of the athlete mindset and learn how to be personable."
Jackson echoed a similar mindset shift, emphasizing the value of taking initiative and embracing growth.
"My biggest takeaway was to simply start now," she said. "If you fail, it means you're growing, learning, and progressing. Whether it's a business idea, a podcast, or something small—take the leap and just do it."
Building a Legacy Beyond the Game
A central theme throughout the Legacy Lab experience was the idea of legacy: not simply as something defined at the end of a career, but as something actively shaped through daily actions, relationships, and leadership.
For Jackson, legacy is something that is continually being created.
"Legacy is not simply what is behind you," Jackson said. "It's what you're working on creating moving forward and inspiring those around you right now."
For John, legacy is rooted in the growth and personal development that happens along the journey.
"My understanding of legacy is based around the traits you develop along the path of chasing greatness," he said. "I feel more prepared for life outside of sport and plan to use what I learned to continue developing professionally."
John also reflected on how the experience helped him better connect his current role as a student-athlete with his future goals.
"Legacy Lab helped me bridge my current position in sports with my aspiration of being a voice for other athletes and youth," John shared. "It showed me the importance of helping others overcome challenges and stay resilient."
Jackson hopes to carry the lessons from the experience back to her teammates and continue building on what she learned.
"I plan to expand what I learned toward my team and continue building my personal brand into my best self," Jackson said.
Experiences like the NCAA Legacy Lab align closely with the mission of Illini Way Student-Athlete Development, supporting student-athletes in building leadership skills, exploring career pathways, and preparing for meaningful impact beyond sport through its pillars of Unify, Develop, Inspire, and Achieve.
Advice for Illini
Reflecting on the experience, both student-athletes encouraged others to take advantage of opportunities like Legacy Lab if the chance arises.
"Take the opportunity if it presents itself," John said. "This event helped me build connections with athletes across the country and learn more about who I am outside of football."
Jackson agreed.
"It's an amazing opportunity for anyone willing to be vulnerable and put themselves out there," Jackson shared. "It helps you truly learn who you are as a person and how to use that to your advantage."
Through opportunities like the NCAA Legacy Lab, Illini student-athletes continue to expand their perspectives, develop leadership skills, and explore how their platform can create meaningful impact.
