Lawyer Tom Mars, who represents Spyre Sports Group, detailed the name, image and likeness deal star quarterback recruit Nico Iamaleava signed that has the Tennessee Volunteers in the NCAA’s sights.
“In early 2022, independent of the University of Tennessee or anyone associated with its athletics program, Spyre Sports entered into a mutually beneficial contractual relationship with Nico Iamaleava that involved a limited assignment of his NIL rights, no matter which school he chose to attend,” Mars said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Such ‘representation agreements’ have become increasingly common. The parties agreed that their contractual rights and obligations would be governed by California law, which freely allows prospective college athletes to enter into such agreements.”
On behalf of Spyre Sports Group: @SpyreSports@TheVolClub @JChadHatmaker https://t.co/Sw4pNQHWmA pic.twitter.com/OnE1Z6XXNl
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) January 31, 2024
” . . . The agreement required Spyre to protect the value of Nico’s NIL rights and specifically stated that ‘nothing in (the) agreement constitutes any form of inducement to ATHLETE to enroll at any school and/or join any athletic team.'” the statement continued. “In short, the agreement was fully consistent with then existing NCAA NIL ‘guidelines’ and had nothing to do with recruiting Nico to the University of Tennessee or any other school.”
His statement comes after new broke the University of Tennessee was reportedly under NCAA investigation.
According to a report from the Knoxville News, Spyre Sports Group has signed more than 200 Tennessee athletes to NIL deals.
Mars maintains that Iamaleava could have attended any university and the NIL deal he signed was related to his eventual NFL success. We’ll have to wait and see if the NCAA sees it that way.