Cameron Meyers (3:34/7:56 17 year old AUS) signs "NIL" deal with Nike - might he run NCAA?

Wow! Would be awesome to see him running in the NCAA. If he decides to go that route, which school do you think he’d select?

My bet would be on him selecting Wisconsin to follow in the footsteps of Morgan McDonald and Ollie Hoare.

Ky Robinson goes to Stanford tho

Good point. Either Stanford or Wisconsin then.

Just realized Wisconsin is sponsored by Under Armour and Stanford is sponsored by Nike. I’m officially changing my prediction to Stanford. Would be awesome to see Myers and the Young twins on the same team!

PB is 3:36.1, though I don’t doubt he will run 3:34 as he’s in shape. Feel like he has to go to a Nike school now, so Stanford sure makes sense. Villanova a dark horse?

Does it matter though? I know that Notre Dame is sponsored by Under Armour but I haven't seen of their athletes race in non-Nike.

Are there specific clauses enforced about shoes?

I hope he does. The top of the NCAA is world class at this point. Last year a 3:30 guy didn't even win outdoors, nor did a 13:06 guy. Seems like a great chance for him to develop and get a free education.

Is Washington a Nike school? They've got to be the best amateur milers group in the world, no? Oregon is a Nike school too, and I wouldn't be shocked if Jerry wanted to get his hands on 'the next Jakob'. That's gotta be the reason he took the job, right? To get top talents at 18 instead of 23?

Oregon had Charlie Hunter and Jess Hull

and has this 7:53 guy coming in next year who flipped commitment from Wisconsin -

worldathletics.org

Archie NOAKES | Profile | World Athletics

Open link

I was under the impression that there were still a lot of issues with international students on student visa's getting NIL deals. Was that resolved?

Yeah he won't be coming to the states since International students can't get NIL since it messes with there visas

You just have to do all NIL activities and be paid in home country. So, do some photoshoots in Australia, run as a Nike-NIL athlete for the next 1-2 years, then enroll in a Nike school and keep running in Nike gear but “don’t get paid for” any activity you’re doing in the US

When Taylor Swift does a deal with Pepsi, or Lebron does one with ATT, that's called a name, image and likeness deal, as the sponsor pays the star to use the NIL for a certain period of time. These deals have existed since at least Babe Ruth. The term had nothing to do with college sports until NCAA athletes were permitted to sign NIL deals just like a pro.

Perhaps he signed an old school NIL with Nike and plans to continue for now with his Australian coaching rather than join a Nike group.

Oregon

Also forgot currently at Oregon is Izzy Thornton-Bott who was 6th at Aussie 1500 champs in march

Oh really! You must be super smart

Sure. But that just isn’t how pro running is talked about. Everyone’s contracts have incentives and stuff and no one uses the term “NIL” instead of “signed a professional contract with Nike” - I don’t see why he would unless they’re trying to preserve eligibility

So intelligent.

You're right, at college level NIL is now a euphemism for all sorts of cash to players deals in football and basketball. Many are 'no show' contracts in that the contract is paid with assumption athlete won't do many of the listed tasks. Pro contracts w/ shoe companies move out of NIL realm with incentives and coach/travel/training group/ housing/medical etc.

If you compare w Lebron, his contract w/Lakers is more like the pro runner contract, then his deals w kia, Nike, Gatorade etc are classic NIL deals.

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he may just stay based in Australia for a few years under NIL and then join a Nike pro group when older. Nice for Oregon, if he goes there instead.