FSU softball player to testify on NIL in Washington D.C Wednesday morning
One day, there might be a national standard for NIL (name, image and likeness) deals.
Currently, the system features state-by-state regulations that allows college student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their NIL.
The state of Florida updated its NIL legislation in February as it pulled back on restrictions and allowed universities to provide additional entrepreneurial workshops to their players.
When it comes to NIL deals, Florida State softball player Kaley Mudge − who is believed the be the Seminoles' highest-earning athlete outside of football − wants to see a system that promotes "fairness and equity."
The redshirt junior will have the opportunity to share her testimony Wednesday at the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing titled "Taking the Buzzer Beater to the Bank: Protecting College Athletes' NIL Dealmaking Rights" in Washington D.C.
The 10:30 a.m. hearing can be seen live here.
Representatives Guz Bilirakis of Florida and Washington's Cathy McMorris Rodgers will lead the hearing.
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Kaley Mudge credits FSU's NIL programs for providing help
Mudge's prepared testimony, according to politico.com, will highlight the reality for the majority of college athletes: They won’t go on to lucrative professional contracts and play sports that are not major revenue sources for their universities.
Mudge credits FSU's NIL education program with setting her up with key professional skills. She will share with the committee she's saving some money earned from her NIL deals to save for nursing school.
“I’ve been able to learn how to read contracts, how to negotiate deals, and how to earn and save money. I have also been able to learn how to brand myself to make deals,” she writes in her prepared testimony.
Mudge wants to see a system with uniform guidelines and expectations.
“The creation of an employee-employer model would significantly threaten this current dynamic and alter everything we know about how sports outside of football and men’s basketball are supported,” Mudge will tell lawmakers.
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FSU's Kaley Mudge will be lone active student-athlete to speak
Mudge will be the lone active student-athlete speaking at the hearing. She will be joined by Patriot League Commissioner Jennifer Heppel, Virginia State University President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, former NFL player Trey Burton, Washington State Director of Athletics Pat Chun and Executive Director and Founder of the College Football Players Association Jason Stahl.
Burton, who played at Florida, will tell lawmakers how monetizing his image and personal brand could have been a game changer for him.
“I got married and had my first child in my junior year at Florida. The resources I could’ve potentially received would’ve benefited my family and gone a long way at the time,” Burton will testify, according to politico.com.
FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford has worked hard and been font-and-center at making what is best for student-athletes a top priority. He is happy and proud Mudge will represent FSU and her peers at the hearing.
“Having Kaley selected to be the voice for current student-athletes in this discussion is another example of how Florida State continues to be leaders on a national scale,” Alford said in a statement released by the school.
“It is a great honor having Kaley represent us, as there is nobody who has better maximized the opportunities that collegiate athletics provides. She has combined excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the NIL space as she pursues her degree in exercise physiology.”
Mudge, who holds the WCWS record for hits in a single World Series with 14 (2021), is looking forward to testifying.
“I feel very honored and grateful for the opportunity to share my story and speak about my college athlete experience on a national level,” Mudge said. “Florida State has been such an amazing community and family to me, and I couldn’t imagine a better experience. I’m so excited to meet and share my story with our country’s lawmakers.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball's Kaley Mudge selected to speak at NIL hearing in D.C.
