Central Texas high school athletes avoiding the worst NIL can bring, for now

Name, image and likeness has unleashed a "Wild West" type of environment on college athletics the last five years, and though it's slowly started to impact the high school level, Central Texas seems to have been mostly immune from the worst aspects. 

While Texas High School Coaches Association executive director Joe Martin said "our kids are being abused and taken advantage of" Sunday in Houston at that organization's annual July conference, coaches in the Austin area said Monday that they haven't dealt with or heard of any local horror stories of unethical agents taking advantage of players and their families. 

"I think our parents have been smart, and we've been fortunate not to get tied up with people that are saying they're representing (kids) from the standpoint of an agent," said Lake Travis coach Hank Carter, who has had multiple athletes sign with FBS schools since NIL became a reality in 2021. "Kids going to play major college football, whether that's Group of 4 or Power 4, those kids are going to get something. But as far as kids having leverage to go in and dictate and go in and kind of make demands, there is a super, super small number that would have that type of leverage."

Texas high school athletes can sign NIL agreements with colleges once they turn 17, though they can't receive benefits while competing as a prep. The University Interscholastic League started offering advice on NIL agreements to coaches, parents and athletes after learning of some unethical agents who had athletes sign deals that weren't in the high schooler's best interest. 

"We were concerned with athletes and parents … having very little knowledge of the agreements they were signing," Martin said. "… There's been a strong push … to create an NIL agent registry, not only in this state, but nationally."

Like Carter, LBJ athletic director and football coach Joe Rauls said none of his athletes have had a negative experience with NIL agreements or dealing with agents, but that NIL itself does affect decision-making. 

"There have been some choices based off of NIL more than the opportunity to be successful and the opportunity to play early and other opportunities," Rauls said. "At the end of the day, we as coaches try to make sure that our athletes understand that the educational part outweighs the financial gain that you might get initially. … Because you might be going to a place that doesn't have a great layout plan for you academically, athletically or personally for your success, along with what's going on with the team. So you might be setting yourself up for an NIL deal that may last for only a year, if that's the case." 

As to NIL in Texas high school athletics, that's receiving a negative reaction from coaches and athletic directors at the conference. According to Sports Illustrated, 38 states allow NIL, but Westlake athletic director Callan Nokes said everyone he's talked to in Houston is against it. 

"That's been a big topic of conversation, and it's something that all of us are concerned about," Nokes said. "No one really wants that to happen at the high school level, so we're kind of pushing back against it."

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