In this episode, Rachel Maeng, a former athlete turned NIL strategist, breaks down how student-athletes can build sustainable personal brands and navigate the evolving NIL landscape. She shares insights on making smarter recruiting decisions, leveraging social media, and creating long-term value in college athletics. Rachel also explores how NIL is changing opportunities across sports and what the future holds for athletes in this new era.

• Your personal brand is a long-term business asset, not just a social media presence
• Athletes should start building their brand and online presence early
• NIL opportunities vary widely across sports, with growing potential for women and non-revenue athletes
• The transfer portal adds complexity to decision-making and requires strategic planning
• Schools and collectives are evolving rapidly, creating both opportunities and risks

00:00 Introduction to Rachel Maeng and her NIL expertise
01:10 Rachel’s recruiting journey and athletic background
01:56 Transition from athlete to NIL strategist
03:07 Evolution of NIL rules and technology
04:21 The importance of personal branding
06:07 Should athletes form an LLC?
06:45 Common social media mistakes
10:39 Opportunities for women and Olympic sports
13:37 NIL in recruiting conversations
15:57 Transfer portal and athlete decision-making
19:05 Future trends in NIL and college athletics
22:28 Risks of transferring and academic planning
26:39 Building brand ecosystems for athletes

Rachel Maeng is a former athlete and NIL strategist who helps student-athletes build personal brands, navigate NIL opportunities, and make strategic decisions in college athletics.

Rachel Maeng on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-meng
Rachel Maeng on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_maeng/
Brian Davidson on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrdavidson/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting a student-athlete, understanding branding and strategy early can make a major difference in long-term success. Make sure to get started for free at nilgameplan.com

• NIL has shifted recruiting from relationship-driven to more transactional dynamics
• Misinformation is one of the biggest challenges in the NIL space
• Schools are building in-house NIL programs to better support athletes
• Personal branding is now essential, starting as early as high school
• Non-revenue sports may see new opportunities through NIL growth

00:00 Introduction to NIL and Brendan Hill
03:10 How recruiting has evolved in the NIL era
06:14 Early NIL challenges and building trust
09:07 Inside San Diego State’s NIL approach
12:12 Supporting athletes day-to-day
16:00 Common misconceptions about NIL
18:44 Advice for high school athletes
21:57 The future of NIL and college sports

Brendan Hill is the Assistant Athletic Director at San Diego State University, where he focuses on NIL strategy, student-athlete development, and navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics.

“Misinformation is a major hurdle in NIL.”
“Build your personal brand early.”
“We had to build a team of experts to navigate NIL.”

NIL Gameplan: https://nilgameplan.com
Brendan Hill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendenhill/

If you're navigating NIL or supporting someone who is, check out NIL Gameplan.

Just visit NILGameplan.com to get started for free.

In this episode, professional lacrosse player and former Notre Dame standout Kasey Choma shares how being a Division I athlete shaped her confidence, career path, and identity beyond sports. She highlights the transition out of athletics, the power of relationships and networking, and how athletes can translate key skills into the workplace, while also touching on NIL’s growing impact beyond traditional sports.