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NEWS: Top Collegiate Stars Turn Pro & Sign NIL Deals

  • Aimee Mackenzie
  • 7 hours ago
  • 3 min read

Written by Aimee Mackenzie, edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin

As the new year has begun, many current collegiate athletes have announced new NIL deals while recent alum have secured professional contracts. Here are the most recent group of NIL and professional signings to pop up on our radar...


Hannah Gapes (NC State)

NIL deal: Adidas

Accolades:

  • Three-Time First-Team All-American (XC & DMR)

  • Two-Time NCAA XC Team Champion with NC State (2025 & 2023)

  • Five-Time New Zealand National Champion (XC & 5k)

  • 19th place representing New Zealand at 2026 World XC Championships

  • NCAA #13 All-Time Indoor DMR (10:48.51)

  • 10th place over 3000 meters at 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships

  • 2025 ACC Indoor Champion DMR & Runner-up over 3000 meters

  • 3rd place at 2024 ACC XC Championships

  • 2024 Penn Relays 4x1500m Champion



Brian Musau (Oklahoma State)

NIL deal: Brooks

Accolades:

  • Eight-Time First-Team All-American

  • 2025 FISU World University Games 10,000-meter Championship (28:42.39)

  • 2025 NCAA Outdoor 5000-meter Champion in 13:20.59

  • 2025 NCAA Indoor 5000-meter Champion 13:11.34 (Meet Record)

  • Two-Time NCAA XC Team Champion (2025 & 2023): 4th place & 8th place individually

  • 2024 NCAA Indoor DMR Champion

  • Three-Time BIG 12 XC Champion (2025, 2024 & 2023)

  • Two-Time BIG 12 Indoor Champion: 3000 meters & DMR



Smilla Kolbe (North Florida)

Sponsor: On

Pro Group & Coaches: On Women's 800m Project // Louis Heyer

Accolades:

  • Two-Time First-Team All-American

  • 2025 German National Champion 800m

  • 5th place at 2025 FISU World University Games

  • Represented Germany at 2025 World Outdoor Championships

  • NCAA #6 All-Time Outdoor 800-meter (1:59.02)

  • 17th place at 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships

  • Three-Time ASUN 800-meter Champion



Florence Caron (Penn State)

Sponsor: Hoka

Pro Group & Coaches: Hoka Naz Elite // Jack Mullaney

Accolades:

  • Three-Time First-Team All-American

  • 2025 Canadian National Champion 10,000 meters

  • 3rd place at Canadian XC National Championships

  • Three-Time Second-Team All-American (10k & 5k)

  • 3rd place at 2025 Penn Relays 4x1500-meter relay Championship

  • Two-Time 2024 BIG 10 Outdoor Champion: 10k & 5k

  • NCAA #5 All-Time 4x1500-meter relay at 2024 Penn Relays (17:09.59)

  • 57th place representing Canada at 2026 World XC Championships

  • Two-Time Penn State Record Holder (Outdoor 5k & 4x1500-meter relay)



Kelly-Ann Beckford (Houston)

Sponsor: Under Armour

Pro Group & Coaches: UA Mission Run Baltimore // Cory Leslie & Carrie Lane

Accolades:

  • Two-Time Jamaican National Champion (800 meters & 1500 meters)

  • 2025 NACAC Championships 800-meter Bronze Medalist

  • Represented Jamaica in mixed 4x400-meter relay for World Athletics Relays Championship

  • Two-Time NCAA D2 Champion (800-meter & 4x400-meter relay)

  • Two-Time NCAA D2 Runner-up (800-meter & 4x400-meter relay)

  • Seven-Time First-Team All-American (D1 & D2)

  • Three-Time 2024 BIG 12 Champion (800-meter & 4x400-meter relay)

  • 2024 BIG 12 Outdoor Championship 800-meter Runner-up

  • 2021 Drake Relays 4x400m relay Champion



Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Sponsor: Under Armour

Pro Group & Coaches: UA Mission Run Baltimore // Cory Leslie & Carrie Lane

Accolades:

  • Nine-Time First-Team All-American

  • 3rd place in 800 meters at 2025 USA Indoor Championships

  • Semi-Finalist in 800 meters at 2024 US Olympic Trials

  • NCAA D2 #2 All-Time Indoor 800 meters (1:47.16)

  • NCAA D2 #3 All-Time Outdoor 800 meters (1:45.46)

  • Five-Time NCAA D2 Champion 800 meters (Indoors & Outdoors)

  • 2023 NCAA D2 Indoor Championship 800-meter Runner-up (1:47.16)

  • 2023 & 2024 Drake Relays 800-meter Champion

  • 2022 Drake Relays 800-meter Runner-up

  • Six-Time MIAA 800-meter Champion



Kassidy Johnson (Rutgers / Kansas State)

Sponsor: Under Armour

Pro Group & Coaches: UA Mission Run Baltimore // Cory Leslie & Carrie Lane

Accolades:

  • Semi-Finalist in 800 meters at 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

  • 5th place in 800 meters at 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships

  • 2020 BIG 12 Indoor Champion 1000 meters (2:44.89)

  • 2023 BIG Outdoor Championships 800-meter Runner-up

  • Three-Time BIG 12 Indoor Championships Runner-up (1000 meters & DMR)

  • Two-Time BIG 12 Championships 3rd place finishes (1500 meters & 800-meter)

  • 2022 Drake Relays 800-meter Champion



Alex Carlson (Northern Arizona / Rutgers)

Sponsor: Adidas

Pro Group & Coaches: Flagstaff based // Terrence Mahon & Jennifer Rhines

Accolades:

  • NCAA #3 All-Time DMR (if not run on an oversized track) (10:39.44)

  • Three-Time Second-Team All-American (Mile & DMR)

  • 2025 BIG Sky Indoor Champion 800 meters

  • Three-Time BIG 10 Indoor Champion (Mile & 3000 meters)

  • 2025 BIG Sky Outdoor 800-meter Runner-up

  • 2024 NCAA XC Championship team scorer

  • 2023 BIG 10 Indoor Championship Mile Runner-up

  • Four-Time Rutgers School Record Holder (1000-meter, mile, 3000 meters, DMR)



Carson Williams (Furman)

Sponsor: Under Armour

Pro Group & Coaches: UA Mission Run Dark Sky Distance // Stephen Haas

Accolades:

  • NCAA #10 All-Time 3000-meter steeplechase (8:19.71)

  • 3rd place in 3000-meter steeplechase at 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships

  • Three-Time Second-Team All-American (Mile & 3000-meter steeplechase)

  • Two-Time Southern Outdoor Champion 3000-meter steeplechase

  • Six-Time Southern Indoor Champion (Mile & 3000 meters & DMR)

  • Three-Time Southern runner-up (XC & 800-meter & 1500 meters)

  • 42nd place at 2024 NCAA XC Championships




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