Leave is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of South Alabama, its athletics department or its conference. Everything here comes from what University of South Alabama, its conference, the state of Alabama and the NCAA have published, linked under Sources and read on October 23, 2026. "Not published" means the school has not published it.
The rules at South Alabama
| Question | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| School NIL policy | "University of South Alabama Name, Image and Likeness Policy" (posted as NIL Guidelines, last revised 2024-09-12). It says South Alabama "may not adopt or maintain" rules that "unreasonably" restrict NIL pay, protects scholarships, lets "A South Alabama staff member or coach" arrange or facilitate an NIL opportunity, and says compensation "may be provided only by a third party not owned or operated under the authority of South Alabama". The 2026-27 Student-Athlete Handbook (updated August 2026) points to the athletics website for "the most up to date information regarding the department's NIL guidelines" | South Alabama Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2024-09-12) and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27 |
| How deals are disclosed | Policy: "To receive any of the services" South Alabama offers, athletes disclose the parties, terms, pay and any NIL representative and fee "within 30 days of executing an agreement pertaining to NIL activities or performing any activity requested in such an agreement, whichever is sooner". The NIL FAQ (same date) says "no matter the value of the compensation, all student-athletes must report all NIL deals through the disclosure page on TheLinkU". NCAA: third-party deals of $600 or more go to NIL Go within five business days (Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2). No Alabama statute sets a disclosure rule now | South Alabama Athletics, NIL Guidelines and NIL FAQ (2024-09-12); NCAA Division I Manual 2026-27 |
| Banned categories | No Alabama statute lists categories now; the 2021 list was repealed in 2022. South Alabama's policy bars endorsements of or pay from tobacco and nicotine companies or retailers, alcoholic beverage companies, sellers or dispensaries of controlled substances including marijuana, adult entertainment businesses, casinos or gambling sponsors, and any entity that "in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the Director of Athletics, negatively impacts or reflects adversely on South Alabama". The FAQ adds sports betting and performance enhancing supplements | South Alabama Athletics, NIL Guidelines and NIL FAQ (2024-09-12); /nil/college/alabama |
| School marks and group licensing | Policy: "prior approval from South Alabama's athletic licensing representative" before using South Alabama marks or logos; NIL activity in South Alabama facilities is allowed if any usual facility fee is paid. The NIL page sends licensing questions to the university's licensing office and links player merchandise stores. Group licensing: Not published | South Alabama Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2024-09-12) and NIL page |
| Revenue sharing | The College Sports Commission puts the 2026-27 cap at approximately $21.58 million per school and lists the University of South Alabama as participating in 2026-27 (read 2026-10-23). South Alabama's 2025-04-10 release launched the tax-deductible Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund "to maximize its revenue-sharing opportunities"; then-Director of Athletics Joel Erdmann said "the university can now oversee the collection and distribution of funds". The fund's page (read 2026-10-23) says one-time gifts may name a sport and "All monthly giving levels are restricted to the general fund". No total is published | College Sports Commission; South Alabama Athletics, Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund release (2025-04-10) and fund page |
| Collective or NIL group | Jags Impact Collective, created by volunteers in 2022. South Alabama's 2024-07-25 release says TheLinkU "will now manage the Jags Impact Collective"; the 2024 FAQ calls Jags Impact "a third-party organization unaffiliated with the University of South Alabama" operating as an LLC. The 2025-04-10 release says the Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund "will replace the previous fundraising efforts of the Jags Impact Collective through TheLinkU". South Alabama's NIL page, titled Jags Impact, still links a TheLinkU player marketplace and registration (read 2026-10-23). No current statement from the collective itself was found | South Alabama Athletics, TheLinkU release (2024-07-25), NIL FAQ (2024-09-12), Fund release (2025-04-10) and NIL page |
| Agents and representation | Policy: South Alabama "may not prevent or unreasonably restrict" professional representation to secure NIL pay. Handbook: agents and financial advisors must be registered with the State of Alabama and the Athletics Compliance Office and are "expected to notify" the office by email before contacting an athlete or family. Alabama law: an agent who solicits an agency contract, which includes an endorsement contract, registers with the Secretary of State, notifies the athletic director within 72 hours after signing or before the next athletic event, whichever is first, and the athlete may cancel within 14 days (Code of Ala. §§ 8-26B-4, 8-26B-11, 8-26B-12) | South Alabama Athletics, NIL Guidelines (2024-09-12) and Student-Athlete Handbook 2026-27; /nil/college/alabama |
| Compliance contact | South Alabama Athletics Compliance Office, (251) 460-7121, compliance@southalabama.edu. Ty Singletary is Associate Athletic Director, Compliance & Cap Management | South Alabama Athletics, Compliance (read 2026-10-23) |
| State law | Repealed. Alabama has had no college NIL statute since Act 2022-2 repealed Act 2021-227 on 2022-02-03; the state's athlete agent act still reaches agents who handle endorsement deals | /nil/college/alabama |
What is specific to South Alabama
South Alabama's NIL record shows a full move from an outside collective to a university fund. Volunteers led by Mark Spivey built the Jags Impact Collective in 2022, when, in Erdmann's words, "the university had to be at arm's length from the NIL process"; TheLinkU took over managing it in July 2024; and in April 2025 the Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund replaced its fundraising, with tax-deductible gifts to a sport or the general fund and none earmarked for an individual athlete. South Alabama's compliance lead now carries the title "Associate Athletic Director, Compliance & Cap Management". Leadership changed in 2026: Erdmann retired on 2026-05-31, and Daniel McCarthy, deputy athletic director since 2017, was named director of athletics on 2026-07-21. The 2024 policy ties school help to disclosure: athletes who report within 30 days can receive department services such as content creation and NIL software, and staff or coaches may arrange or facilitate opportunities.
How Leave fits
In Leave, every deal thread carries a rules summary for the athlete's state and level, and keeps the contract, its dates and the disclosure deadline that applies. It is a summary, not a ruling; the school and the law decide. Leave is software, not an agent, and takes 0% of any deal. You decide, you send.
Questions about NIL at South Alabama
Does South Alabama pay its athletes?
South Alabama shares revenue. The College Sports Commission lists it as participating in 2026-27, with a cap of approximately $21.58 million per school, and South Alabama raises money for it through the Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund launched in April 2025. South Alabama has not published how much it shares or how it divides the money.
What NIL collective works with South Alabama?
The Jags Impact Collective, started by volunteers in 2022; a July 2024 release says TheLinkU "will now manage" it. South Alabama's April 2025 release says the Loyal, Strong & Faithful Fund replaces the collective's fundraising, and South Alabama's NIL page, titled Jags Impact, still links TheLinkU's player marketplace.
How do South Alabama athletes report NIL deals?
South Alabama's 2024 FAQ says athletes "must report all NIL deals", whatever their value, on TheLinkU's disclosure page, and its policy ties school NIL services to disclosure within 30 days of signing or performing. Third-party deals of $600 or more also go to NIL Go within five business days (NCAA Bylaws 22.2.2, 22.2.2.2).
Can South Alabama coaches help athletes find NIL deals?
South Alabama's 2024 policy says "A South Alabama staff member or coach may arrange or facilitate an opportunity for a student-athlete's NIL activity", while pay itself comes only from third parties not owned or operated under South Alabama's authority.
Is there an Alabama NIL law for college athletes?
No. Alabama repealed its 2021 college NIL law in 2022. The state's athlete agent act still covers agents who handle endorsement contracts.
Be your own agent. Leave.
