My name is Hayden Roberts. I am a senior honors student at the University of Alabama studying accounting, and I will be attending law school next fall. I have published research on name, image, and likeness in my undergraduate law journal, where I proposed a new regulatory framework designed to better protect and serve the interests of student-athletes. This piece earned first-place recognition within the journal’s entire VIII edition. My long-term goal is to work in the sports and entertainment space, particularly in athlete advocacy and NIL, whether through a collegiate athletics front office role or athlete representation.
I started this blog because NIL is evolving quickly and it can be difficult to keep up with the news and understand what it really means, whether you are an athlete, a parent, or a casual fan. I want to make NIL clear and accessible by breaking down weekly updates in a concise and easy to understand way. I also apply my background in accounting to highlight the tax implications of NIL deals, which is an area that often gets overlooked. My goal is to help athletes make informed decisions and protect their hard-earned money.