Top LSU Baseball NIL Deals: How Tigers Are Leveraging Their Name, Image, and Likeness

Well now, if you’ve been keepin’ up with all them big sports talk, you might’ve heard about this new thing they call NIL deals in college sports. That’s short for “Name, Image, and Likeness,” and let me tell ya, it’s been changin’ the game for college athletes, especially those young fellas playin’ baseball over at LSU.

Now, back in the day, college athletes weren’t allowed to make a dime off their name or their talents. It wasn’t until just a couple of years ago, in 2021, that the NCAA decided to let them youngsters make some money off their name, image, and likeness. That’s how NIL got started. It lets them boys use their own image and get paid for it—whether it’s from sellin’ their jerseys or doin’ commercials. It’s like if a good ol’ boy like me could sell my picture on a postcard, well, that’s the kinda deal they’re talkin’ about.

But let’s talk about them LSU Tigers, especially the ones out there on the baseball diamond. Now, LSU has always been a powerhouse in baseball, but now with this NIL thing, them boys got even more reason to work hard and show off their skills. LSU’s baseball program, with the help of Bayou Traditions, has been raisin’ funds to help them athletes make the most of their NIL deals. I’m tellin’ ya, them folks are workin’ hard to get them boys a good deal—make it easy for them to make some money, and still stay focused on their game.

One fella you might have heard about is Paul Skenes, LSU’s ace pitcher. He’s been makin’ a big name for himself, and not just on the mound. Now, Paul’s a good-hearted boy too, and he’s decided to donate part of his NIL earnings to charity. You don’t see that kinda thing every day, but that’s the kind of fella Paul is—lookin’ out for others while he’s out there makin’ a name for himself. And he ain’t the only one, no sir. There’s others like Tommy White, a fresh-faced feller from NC State who’s now playin’ for LSU. He’s announced he’s gonna donate some of his NIL money too, helpin’ out in the community with Empower 225. Ain’t that somethin’?

Now, you might be wonderin’, “How does all this NIL money help them baseball boys at LSU?” Well, it’s simple. With this extra cash, it’s makin’ it a bit easier for LSU to offer them scholarships and keep them players in the game. If these young fellas can make money while still in school, they don’t gotta worry so much about them student loans or not havin’ enough to get by. That means they can put all their energy into playin’ ball and representin’ LSU to the best of their ability.

And let me tell ya, LSU’s baseball program ain’t holdin’ back. From big-time recruits to established players, everyone’s gettin’ in on these NIL deals. It’s not just about the cash, though. It’s about these young men being able to benefit from the hard work they put in. They train, they play, they become household names, and now they get to see some of that hard-earned money come back to them.

But don’t just take my word for it—go ahead and look at some of them rankings. LSU players are holdin’ strong in terms of NIL valuation, and that’s a big deal. These fellas are not just great at baseball, they’ve got the kinda influence that makes sponsors want to get behind ‘em. And it’s not just the top stars either. A lot of players, even ones just gettin’ started, are cashin’ in on them NIL deals.

Now, you might be wonderin’ if this NIL thing’s gonna stick around for long. Well, I reckon it’s here to stay for a while. It’s givin’ athletes more control over their careers and makin’ college sports even more competitive. The way I see it, them LSU Tigers are gonna keep makin’ waves, both on and off the field, as long as they keep takin’ advantage of these NIL deals.

To wrap it all up, them boys at LSU, and other college athletes across the country, are livin’ in a new world with this NIL. They work hard, they play hard, and now they got a way to earn some good money while doin’ it. LSU’s baseball team is gonna keep shinin’, and I reckon these NIL deals are just one more reason why.