Fake Contracts and 40% Fees: College Athletes Get Scammed on NIL Deals

Savannah Schoenherr celebrates with her University of Florida teammates during the 2023 NCAA women’s gymnastics semifinals. Schoenherr received a $3,000 check from a company she’d arranged an NIL deal with but after she deposited it, the check bounced. Photographer: Aric Becker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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By Nicole Sadek and Ronnie Greene

July 18, 2023 at 9:04 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Savannah Schoenherr was fresh off a second-place team finish at the NCAA gymnastics championship last year when a business opportunity hit her inbox: A New York clothing brand offered her $1,500 to model its apparel.

She jumped at the chance to benefit from new NCAA policies allowing college athletes to make money off their name, image, and likeness.