Name Image Likeness

"NIL King" Rayquan Smith Launches Athlete Marketplace

Virginia State running back's SponsorPro platform helps student-athletes secure NIL deals

Michael Ehrlich

"NIL King" Rayquan Smith Launches Athlete Marketplace
"NIL King" Rayquan Smith Launches Athlete Marketplace /

In the first two and a half years of NIL, Virginia State running back Rayquan Smith - previously of Norfolk State - has closed nearly 100 deals. But as the self-proclaimed "NIL King" continues to reinvent himself, he has now added "athlete marketplace founder" to his resume.

Smith has co-founded SponsorPro, a two-sided digital marketplace that connects college athletes with local and nationwide businesses for NIL opportunities.

In a crowded space dominated by the likes of Opendorse, Postgame and Icon Source, Smith's venture faces tough competition but being an underdog in the NIL space hasn't stopped him thus far.

Leveraging his experiences over the past two years - and with a keen focus on expediting the process of fostering profitable NIL partnerships for all - Smith was motivated to start his own NIL platform to empower other student-athletes, especially at HBCUs. Observing the challenges of his peers sparked the idea for a platform that would both streamline the deal-flow process and create a community of support.

"SponsorPro sets itself apart with a platform that customizes NIL chances for athletes by fusing cutting-edge technology with a personalized touch," Smith shared with Sports Illustrated. "With the use of analytics and a connection-building approach, SponsorPro distinguishes itself by providing meaningful relationships that complement the individual identities and values of each athlete. We place a high value on community development, openness, and simplicity to provide an unmatched experience in the congested NIL platform market."

Athletes have free access to SponsorPro while brands pay a $14.99 monthly fee, after a free month trial period.

So after launching his own platform and securing deals with the likes of Eastbay, Spikeball, Body Armour, GOAT Fuel, Arby’s, where does the King go from where?

"My personal goal in the NIL space for the next year is to continue expanding and refining SponsorPro to become the go-to platform for athletes seeking lucrative and authentic endorsement opportunities, especially HBCU students," added Smith. "I aim to foster a vibrant community, empower more athletes, and stay at the forefront of innovation in the evolving landscape of name, image, and likeness deals."

In seven games this year as a graduate student at Virginia State - with one more year of eligibility left - Smith had 171 yards and two touchdowns. The 8-2 Trojans ended their season with a 30-20 loss versus Virginia Union.

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Michael Ehrlich
MICHAEL EHRLICH

Michael Ehrlich is a seasoned sports marketing executive with experience across the global sports brand, athlete representation, media and education sides of the business. The Founder and CEO of Playbook Marketing, Ehrlich consults with brands on all things NIL and athlete partnerships, advises student-athletes on their personal brand building endeavors and is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of Southern California where he teaches a course on athlete communications and marketing. As a writer, his previous bylines include Boardroom, Business of College Sports, DIME Magazine and UPROXX, among others. You can follow him across social media at @MichaelEhrlich and reach out via michael@playbook-marketing.com

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