For college football players in Georgia, NIL deals continue opening new doors

“It’s really just presented more opportunities for us to market ourselves and make some money doing it,” McDuffie added.

Georgia Tech begins its football season Monday night with a game against No. 4 Clemson at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

It’s the second season under new rules that allow college players to make money for the use of their name, image and likeness and the change has opened up some new opportunities for the athletes and Atlanta companies.

ketteQ says Smith got experience as an intern for the company over the summer and McDuffie will do so this fall.

The ketteQ agreement is just one of many NIL deals that have been signed since a Supreme Court decision and a new Georgia law paved the way for college athletes to see at least a small share of what has become a billion dollar college sports industry.

The money-making aspect has drawn some skeptics of NIL agreements. They fear it will lead to the demise of the amateur college athlete. While other detractors say NIL deals are a way for schools to get around recruiting rules.

But Yellow Jackets’ running backs coach Mike Daniels sees a benefit.

“Some people are weary or have concerns about young people having the ability to make money,” said Daniels, who has coached at both the high school and college level, and whose son played college football. “But for me, it’s real life experience for them to be able read a contract, see a 1099, go meet people.”

Mike Landry the CEO of ketteQ says NIL agreements can help his company better target its marketing efforts.

“A lot of supply chains are run by Georgia Tech alum, who are also Georgia Tech football fans,” said Landry. “And so we saw an opportunity to partner with the football team to help generate some awareness for us.”