Athlete Spotlight: Former Texas Volleyball standout shares words of NIL wisdom with high school student-athletes
From the crisp blue ocean waves of Hawaii to the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country, University of Texas Volleyball setter Jhenna Gabriel never thought she would get the opportunity to find success with name, image and likeness (NIL) when she crossed the Pacific to become a Longhorn in 2018.
Like many other athletes before her, Gabriel’s high school and college career did not revolve around NIL. The idea was seemingly far from reality for any college student-athletes, and certainly not high school student-athletes.
That all changed in July 2021 with the passing of the NCAA’s NIL policy. Gabriel got to experience this new wave of possibility.
“Going into it, I was unsure what NIL would look like for me. I didn’t know what to expect. I definitely navigated a couple of options and talked with the smaller companies that wanted to reach out. My biggest thing was that I didn’t just want to jump into NIL and just do things to make some money here or there,” Gabriel told Eccker Sports.
Gabriel continued to prioritize her sport and her future, bypassing numerous deals that did not align with her goals. Then, Degree, a global deodorant company, came knocking.
As an advocate for mental health and women in athletics, Gabriel said this opportunity gave her the platform to spread important messages and connect with her growing audience.
“My audience is a majority of girls my age, girls younger than me that also play volleyball that look up to players who get to play at the highest level. I wanted to make sure the deals I was pursuing were not only tailored to me but tailored to them and helping them,” Gabriel said.
After collecting numerous accolades during her four seasons at Texas, including All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Setter of the Year, and Academic All-Big 12 First Team, Gabriel took a break from her Longhorn family and the sport of volleyball in 2022 to focus on her mental health and finishing her master’s degree.
Gabriel plans to return to the sport professionally, but for now, she hopes her story helps show the future generation of athletes that even though NIL comes with great opportunities, it is important to focus on the big picture when making decisions that will ultimately drive their future.
Her advice to high school athletes
When Gabriel graduated high school in 2017, she did not have to factor NIL into her equation. The field is changing and quickly.
Gabriel’s advice to high school athletes considering NIL:
- Make sure academics, athletics and mental health come first
- Consider college options holistically
- Understand how a NIL opportunity aligns with current and future goals
Make sure academics, athletics and mental health come first
Making money and receiving benefits while playing a sport in high school or college is an attractive offer. No doubt a tough one to pass up. But Gabriel knows that NIL does not necessarily equal comfort, because it does not take away from the hustle and bustle of being a college student-athlete. While money helped, she says the things that really motivated her, especially during tough times, included excelling in her sport, getting good grades, managing her social life and putting self-care first.
“There were some brand deals I didn’t end up taking because of how demanding the requirements were for it. Understanding that I still have to wake up at six in the morning every day, head into workouts and then get a ton of homework done, especially when you head into season, you are not focused on trying to create content for a brand when you know you will play Baylor in two days,” Gabriel said. “At the end of the day you are still there to win games for your team. You are there to make sure you are getting good grades and being a good student.”
Consider college options holistically
College can be an exciting, yet scary next step in life for student-athletes. Gabriel believes there is so much more to consider in the college experience than just NIL.
“Once you get to whatever school you end up going to, there are going to be so many outside factors whether it is school or whether it is NIL deals, whether it is your social life or just managing being in a new place or being a brand new student-athlete at a collegiate program,” Gabriel said.
She recommends that high school athletes figure out what they want out of their college experience and weigh all those factors in their decision. The cumulation of those experiences will impact a student-athlete’s time in college. Gabriel’s love for volleyball and the family she found with her team is what made her feel at home.
“I went to Texas to try to win a national championship and make it to the Final Four and it was those things that helped me keep going when I wasn’t feeling my best. When I wasn’t feeling like myself. I think that is what people need to remember. That’s the root of everything.”
Understand how an NIL opportunity aligns with current and future goals
The hard reality is that not all high school athletes will go on to play in college, and even fewer will make it to the professional level.
Gabriel encourages student-athletes to think about their short-term goals, long-term goals and their vision for the future when considering NIL deals.
The deals feel much more impactful when these elements align, Gabriel said.
“It is not only a rewarding feeling that you are doing it, but you are also making a difference with your platform,” Gabriel said.
Since Gabriel was selective with her NIL endeavors, she was given opportunities that enabled her to positively impact her audience while also allowing her to maintain balance in her college schedule.
At the end of the day, student-athletes have a long journey ahead. Gabriel hopes high school athletes enjoy their time being young and playing their sport for the pure love of the game before they turn their focus to NIL.
