Hercy Miller and NIL Impact in MVC & OVC

There is Hercy Miller and Everybody Else

(St. Louis, MO) – The grand announcement about college athletes being able to profit off their name, image and likeness was heralded as the second coming of the emancipation proclamation. However, for most college athletes, it is much ado about nothing. Then there is Hercy Miller.

Oklahoma’s backup quarterback can make a lot of money. If you’re viewed as attractive enough you can become a highly paid ‘influencer’ on Instagram. For the 271 Division 1 basketball programs outside the seven ‘money’ conferences, there appear to be fewer opportunities.

But there is Tennessee State’s Hercy Miller.

For every Spencer Rattler (OU QB), there are hundreds of Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley Conference athletes that may make a couple of hundred dollars and most are making nothing. It is estimated that Rattler is bringing in $800,000 and was recently given two cars from an Oklahoma-based dealership.

Kentucky basketball player TyTy Washington recently signed a deal with a Louisville Porsche dealership and has been given one of its cars.

Hercy Miller and Everybody Else

Most Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley Conference coaches and players believe the new name, image and likeness, legislation is good for college athletics and good for the players. While most players and coaches I’ve spoken with have little to no experience with profiting off NIL, there is one OVC player that is maximizing the new regulations.

Tennessee State freshman guard Hercy Miller is reportedly earning $2 million! Now you understand why I write there is ‘Hercy Miller and everybody else.’ Miller is the son of Percy Miller, better known as the rapper ‘Master P’. After graduating from Minnehaha Academy, father and son looked for the best opportunity to play basketball, make large sums of money and to do something important with that money.

The younger Miller signed with tech company Web Apps America. That company is committed to supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Tennessean writer Mike Organ quotes Miller as saying he wants to give back.

“My first thing was to give back and help the youth and the elderly in the community,” Hercy said.”

The younger Miller has run basketball camps where he provided significant amounts of school supplies and back packs to his campers. While the older Miller has his own financial success, he is committed to seeing TSU and other athletes and institutions succeed too.

Head Coach Brian ‘Penny’ Collins says Hercy Miller has helped create a buzz around the program and has helped other players understand that opportunities exist, but insists the guard is a legitimate player.

 

 

TSU teammates Carlos Marshall and Mark Fitzgerald have clothing lines that they are excited about. Their merchandise can be found at myplayerlocker.com.

Carlos modeled one of his sweatshirts for us recently.

It Takes Time

Several coaches and players tell me the NIL is more work than it’s worth. They would like to make some money on their new ‘legal’ side hustle, but paying taxes and how a certain small amounts of money could affect their PELL grants makes them more than gun shy.

Foreign players aren’t invited to the NIL financial ‘windfall’. Their student visas don’t allow them to have jobs outside of their educational guide-lines. Austin Peay guard Carlos Paez told me he was excited about the possibilities, until he read that part of the NIL informational documents.

 

 

Belmont’s Nick Muszynski and Murray State’s Tevin Brown said pursuing those financial opportunities weren’t a high priority. Eastern Illinois’ Sammy Friday IV says he hasn’t researched the process enough to know what to do, but has spoken to the EIU compliance office to learn some of the guide-lines.

Gaining Financial Traction

Some players, like Loyola’s Lucas Williamson have multiple projects. Fans can purchase a jersey and can receive a ‘cameo greeting’ from the MVC’s top defender. Drake’s D.J. Wilkins is selling his jersey.

Drake head coach Darian DeVriese is glad his university is forward thinking about helping the players advance their financial possibilities.

 

 

Loyola’s Drew Valentine has brought advisors on campus to educate his players on NIL issues.

 

 

Illinois State’s Howard Flemming Junior has begun a clothing line. Head coach Dan Muller says several Redbirds are working on financial opportunities, but Flemming’s is probably the most developed.

 

 

You can check out Fleming’s products at h3apparel.club.

Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich says his players are like celebrities in Northwest Indiana, and the financial opportunities are starting to trickle in. Lottich says some of his players have been able to take advantage of the new rules. He stresses that team success will lead to more personal opportunities.

 

 

Everybody Else

The ability to make money as a college athlete is as individual as each player. Now, at least the opportunity exists. Penny Collins says the city of Nashville, can be a factor that levels the recruiting field. Future players may be able to make more money in Music City than players from larger programs because their college town happens to be smaller than Nashville.

Whether it is a free meal or $2 million, players are starting to derive benefits that weren’t previously available. When it comes to financial impact, it’s Hercy Miller, and everybody else.

Do Good