Wednesday, September 23, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Aquinas College Volleyball Player First to Capitalize on NIL Deal

  • Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at Aquinas College, is one of the first college athletes to monetize their brand on social media.
  • This article was first published in the FOS AM Newsletter. Subscribe here.
Aquinas College Volleyball

Chloe Mitchell, a volleyball player at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., has become one of the first college athletes to monetize their brand on social media. 

Mitchell’s success comes after the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics began allowing athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness in October. 

Mitchell’s Business Moves: Mitchell has more than 2.6 million TikTok followers and a growing audience on Instagram and YouTube.

She also co-founded Playbooked, an app to connect college athletes with paid opportunities, leading to her first piece of sponsored content with advertisers Bloodline Golf and Delta Putt. 

Mitchell is projected to make between $15,000 and $20,000 in NIL earnings for her work.

NIL Outlook: Beginning on Aug. 1, 2021, college athletes could have more opportunities to make money. 

Recently proposed rule changes will be voted on by the NCAA Division I Council in January. Updated rules would let athletes:

  • Earn money from signing autographs and providing lessons
  • Use their NIL to promote products and personal appearances

A typical athlete could be able to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $100,000 annually from their NIL, while ESPN estimates that All-Americans in high-profile sports could generate between $500,000 and $2 million per year. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer speaks to athletic director Greg Byrne prior to the game against the Louisiana State Tigers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images
Exclusive

Alabama AD Greg Byrne Talks CFP Expansion, Life After Saban

Byrne also addressed jersey patch sponsorships and challenges with NIL.
Drew Weatherford

Former FSU QB Drew Weatherford Says PE Can Fix Youth Sports

Weatherford tells FOS what’s ailing the youth sports industrial complex.
Oct 23, 2021; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels former quarterback Eli Manning speaks on what an honor it is to have his number 10 jersey retired at Mississippi during half time at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Eli Manning Isn’t Dwelling on Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Exit

Manning admitted he’s thankful for Kiffin’s time in Oxford.

Everything in the Senate Bill to Change College Sports

The sweeping, 170-plus-page legislation would reshape college sports.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

9/23/26 – NFL QB Injuries Pile Up, Seahawks’ Scouting Cold War, Aikman’s Contract Limbo

0:00

Featured Today

Hot & Social/Mets

Sports Teams Are Playing a New Role: Matchmaker

The latest promotion at the stadium? Love.
Exclusive
September 18, 2026

Vicious Infighting Is Jeopardizing the Future of Women’s Baseball

The WPBL’s own CEO admits there’s a “power struggle.”
September 17, 2026

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are forgoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.

Chambliss Steals the Show During Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Return

Chambliss stayed at Ole Miss instead of following Kiffin to LSU.
September 19, 2026

Clemson Engineers Comeback Win Over UNC After Lightning Delay

The game ended in front of a sea of empty seats.
September 19, 2026

Weather Delays Scramble ESPN College Football Coverage

A number of delays shifted games around ESPN’s platforms.
Sponsored

How Ryan Smith Is Building the Future of Sports in Utah

Utah Jazz and Mammoth owner talks from tech to team ownership.
September 19, 2026

College Students Have Won $2.2M in Pat McAfee Kicking Contest

Students took home $2.7 million in 2025.
Tigers Head Coach Lane Kiffin, LSU Tigers take on the LA Tech Bulldogs. September 12, 2026; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium.
September 19, 2026

How Lane Kiffin Built College Football’s Most Anticipated Game

Kiffin’s return to Oxford has been nearly 10 months in the making.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA) talks with reporters as he arrives prior to the vote in the House of Representatives on its version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 22, 2026.
September 18, 2026

College Sports Bill Faces Uphill Battle in the House

“The stars have to align in the House for the bill to pass.”
Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell watches the replay. The Florida State Seminoles defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 34-17 at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026.
September 18, 2026

Norvell’s $48M Buyout Comes Into Focus As FSU Faces Alabama

Florida State fired its AD earlier this week.