Major Miami Hurricanes benefactor John Ruiz has been at the forefront of name, image and likeness deals over the last few months. College athletes have been allowed to profit off of their own NIL since July 1, 2021. Ruiz has been very transparent about the NIL deals he has signed with reportedly 115 athletes.
The majority of the athletes Ruiz is working with play for Miami. Earlier this week, Ruiz met with the NCAA to discuss the deals he has made with the athletes representing his companies Cigarette Racing and Life Wallet. Ruiz has brought a lot of attention to the Miami Hurricanes athletic department.
The deals that many college athletes have reached with companies coupled with the transfer portal have created scrutiny nationally. Miami has become a lightning rod in NIL with the deals Ruiz has reached with Hurricanes’ athletes. Alabama head coach Nick Saban called out the deal Miami basketball player Nijel Pack reached with Ruiz.
Pack signed a two-year $800,000 deal to represent Ruiz’s companies after he announced his transfer from Kansas State to join the Miami basketball program. Players on Ruiz’s payroll total about $7 million. Carrol J. Phillips of Deadspin praised Ruiz as doing the lord’s work and criticized the hypocrisy of the NCAA.
"“As we approach the anniversary of NIL, the NCAA wants to “investigate” the one person that’s giving players money above the table all because this thing has completely gotten out of hand because the NCAA allowed it to get to this point.John Ruiz filled a void with supply and demand because the NCAA, these schools, coaches, and conferences are still pocketing billions as NIL allows players to make money without getting a cut of the cash they generate, but yet, the NCAA is still trying to dictate how much players can make off their name, image, and likeness after saying it was OK for players to make money off their name, image, and likeness.”"
Phillips refered to Ruiz as the Robin Hood of college sports. It’s pretty apparent that he wants what is best for the athletes and the Miami Hurricanes athletic department. The NCAA has had its hand forced when multiple states enacted their own NIL laws ahead of the NCAA allowing athletes to make endorsement money.
Miami has been at the forefront of NIL primarily because of Ruiz. Which athletes secure lucrative NIL deals will be dictated by multiple factors. Haley and Hana Cavinder already had over seven million social media followers when they transferred from Fresno State to the Miami basketball program.
The NCAA will likely try to tighten the NIL laws. With each of its members in states with different laws that will be difficult. College athletes have more freedoms than ever before. Athletes can transfer once without sitting out a year and have the ability to seek out their own endorsements. NIL will continue to evolve.