If you've been around sports lately, you've probably heard the term "NIL" thrown around a lot. But what does it actually mean, especially for a high school athlete? Let's break it down in simple terms.

NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness.

Before July 1, 2021, college athletes were prohibited by the NCAA from profiting from their own name, image, or likeness. This meant if you were a star college quarterback, you couldn't get paid to appear in a local car dealership commercial, even if that commercial had nothing to do with your school or sport. You couldn't even sell your own signed jersey.

What Changed?