(pic credit: Rolling Stones/ Yahoo Sports/ESPN)

Prepared for the Moment.

The Tyriq Withers’s journey is powerful.

Not just because he made the leap from college football to Hollywood—it’s because he built a foundation that made that leap possible.

For student-athletes navigating NIL, the path is no longer just from field or court, to the draft;

it can branch off to media, acting, endorsements, and more. Withers rise holds lessons for how to build real, lasting value with your Name, Image, and Likeness—even if you’re not the star of the team.

Here’s what his journey from the Gridiron to Hollywood teaches:

 4 NIL Lessons from Tyriq Withers’s Journey

1. You don't have to be the star to shine.

• Even though Withers wasn’t a marquee player at Florida State—the spotlight didn’t always fall on him—he had other qualities: charisma, presence, and an ability to perform and connect. These are things that translate off the field just as much as on.

• NIL deals, brands, and casting folks often look for who you are, not just how many catches or yards you have. The way you carry yourself, your attitude, your interactions—these are all part of your brand.

• Takeaway: Invest in qualities beyond pure performance. Develop communication skills, leadership, resilience. Your story matters. Personality matters. Visibility in authentic ways matters.

2. Seize smaller platforms; don’t wait for “major league” exposure

• Withers didn’t start in the headlines. He worked in student productions, played scout‐team, made short film appear­ances, and was involved wherever he could get experience. These smaller roles and moments helped him build credibility, skill, and visibility.

• For NIL that means you don’t need to wait until you get drafted or start every game. Local partnerships, content creation, social media, campus theater, local media—all of these can be stepping stones.

• Takeaway: Be proactive. It's not just about Today's money. Be willing to also pursue NIL deals, that allow you to build skill and presence—the accumulation matters. Each little connection, each little project, builds toward bigger opportunities.

3. Authenticity + alignment = trust and opportunities

• Withers came across in casting interviews as grounded, aware, and genuine. His transition from football to acting wasn’t a total pivot without a playbook—football shaped him, taught him discipline, and provided lessons in identity and confidence, which he leans into in with his acting.  

• Hollywood and brands alike want someone who’s real, someone with depth. When your public persona is aligned with your private values (or at least you’re honest about where you come from), you'll stand out.

• Takeaway: Know who you are. What stories matter to you. What experiences have shaped you. Let that inform your messaging, your content, and the causes you support.

  That makes you more compelling as an NIL candidate, beyond just an “athlete.”

   

4. Leverage crossover potential and diversify

• Tyriq Withers didn’t stick to one lane. He was an athlete, but he also pursued acting, theater, media. Once he got roles in Atlanta, then in film, he diversified his portfolio of skills and exposure.  

• NIL isn’t just about sports endorsements. It can include film, modeling, speaking, social media, content creation, or even non‐sports brand partnerships.

  The more "roles" you can play, the more chances to monetize and the less risk of one area drying up on you.

• Takeaway: While you train, perform, compete, also explore. Acting, public speaking, content creation, content brands, business, teaching, coaching, fashion—if it suits you. Build multiple skills. Let people know about them.

Why Brands & Hollywood Care About Athletes—even the Less Visible Ones

• Athletes already bring discipline, work ethic, presence – attributes that are coveted in every area of performance and creativity.

• Built-in audiences – even if you’re not the star on the team or even a starter, you have teammates, fans, alumni, and classmates. You’re part of communities that can amplify you message, or may want to collaborate with you.

• Authenticity & stories – brands want stories people believe in. An underdog story, or someone who had to "hustle,” resonates with people.

  Don't let your trials and tribulations, hold you back from letting others see your true greatness!