NIL Guide
Plain-English NIL answers for Utah college athletes and their families — what NIL is, how to land a deal, how it compares to a scholarship, and how the money is taxed.
Last updated August 24, 2026
This page gives athletes, families, coaches, fans, and partners a cleaner entry point into the part of Beehive Athletes they are most likely to need first.
Useful routes
Start with the strongest path for your sport, school, athlete, or partnership need.
See Utah athletes who already carry public NIL valuation signals.
Open routeAthletes: build the profile brands and collectives actually look at.
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Open routeStories
Sourced stories and athlete features that make this topic easier to understand, share, and revisit.
NIL money is taxable income — usually self-employment income the IRS expects you to report, with no withholding and quarterly estimated payments due. Here is what a Utah college athlete needs to know before tax season.
An athletic scholarship is aid your school gives you to pay for college; NIL is money you earn from your own name, image, and likeness. Here is how the two differ — and how a Utah athlete can hold both at once.
Landing an NIL deal is a repeatable process, not a lottery for five-star recruits. Here are the six steps a Utah college athlete takes — from building an audience to reporting the deal through the NIL Go clearinghouse.
NIL stands for name, image, and likeness — the right of college athletes to get paid for their own brand. Here is how it works, how the 2025 revenue-sharing era changed it, and what it means for athletes at BYU, Utah, and Utah State.
Athletes
Athlete pages give each story a durable place to live after the post, tag, or game result moves on.
AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, selected by the Washington Wizards after one season at BYU. A forward from Brockton, Massachusetts by way of Utah Prep, he led Division I in scoring as a freshman and became the first player in BYU history taken first overall.
Chase Roberts is a BYU wide receiver from Highland, Utah and American Fork High School. The official BYU record layers in 2025 captaincy, preseason All-Big 12 recognition, and a Biletnikoff Award watch-list nod before bringing him back into focus during Pro Day season in March 2026.
Logan Fano is a Utah defensive end from Spanish Fork and Timpview High School. Utah's official 2025 roster lists him as a redshirt junior transfer from BYU, and the program's December 2025 award coverage keeps him connected to the broader Fano family story inside the Utes' program.
Alyssa Blanck is a 6-foot-2 Utah forward from Salt Lake City and a transfer from BYU. Utah's official 2025-26 roster and February 2026 game notes keep her attached to both the Utes' frontcourt and an in-state rivalry storyline.
Sami Blackett is a UVU outside hitter from Orem High School. Her official UVU bio credits her with 304 kills and 233 digs during a 2025 First Team All-WAC season after she earned 2024 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year honors.
Bryson Barnes is a Utah State graduate quarterback from Milford, Utah and Milford High School. Utah State's official releases confirm his selection to the 2025 Davey O'Brien QB Class and his place among the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy, the latter given to college football's top former walk-on.
Mason Falslev is a 6-foot-4 Utah State junior guard from Benson, Utah and Sky View High School. Utah State's own April 2026 releases named him the Mountain West Player of the Year and a CSC Academic All-American, the first Aggie men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America honors since Justin Bean in 2022.
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