How UTAustin high jumper Sam Hurley has earned nearly $1 million
ne of the highest-earning college athletes on the planet says a little prayer. Sam Hurley, a University of Texas sophomore, does so before every leap. He prays that God gives him the wings—represented by an angel tattoo on his left calf—to carry him over the high-jump bar. On this bright, 80-degree late-April afternoon in Austin, Hurley sprints toward the bar, his wavy dark-brown hair bouncing in front of a sea of empty stadium seats.
If NIL rules hadn’t changed two years ago, Hurley, who became a TikTok influencer while in high school, would have skipped college. He wouldn’t have been able to earn money while jumping for the Longhorns, or any other school. Since becoming a college athlete, he’s signed NIL deals with brands such as Amazon, Jimmy Dean, Vuori athletic apparel, and Bubble, the skin-care company. Hurley has continued to expand his fan base via TikTok lip-syncs, often sung without a shirt.
: “Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate. … The NCAA is not above the law.
, managed her son’s affairs before he signed with WME to handle his NIL contracts; she now also advises other social media influencers.—who now has 26 million TikTok followers—and others on a nationwide tour, meeting fans and posting videos together. The clips have racked up millions of views. Hurley began modeling for Polo Ralph Lauren. “Everybody loves the boy-band effect,” says Hootie, who’s developed a substantial social media following of his own . “It’s nitrous oxide in the algorithm.
Hurley graduated high school a semester early, in late 2021, so he could arrive on campus to compete as a freshman at Texas during the 2022 indoor and outdoor track seasons. Before he came to Texas, however, his future teammates rolled their eyes a bit, figuring he’d be some unserious, self-centered, arrogant rich influencer guy.
Hurley at the U.S. Open in September 2022, high jumping for the University of Texas, and surfing at the beach.Hurley points out that he was shirtless in his initial TikTok videos, when he was freshman rail. He attributes this habit to growing up in Arkansas. “I don’t think it’s an arrogance thing,” says Hurley. “Now I feel more confident with my shirt off. Luckily I’m in a position where some people like when my shirt’s off. It’s gonna be off whether you like it or not.
Most encounters are less invasive, if still quite incessant .While he was on the road for a meet in Gainesville, Fla., this year, a group of girls spotted Hurley in a long line at Chipotle, bemusing his teammates. In Louisville, Ky., a high school cheerleading team recognized him in the hotel; moms asked Hurley to pose with them, under the guise of wanting to take pictures for their daughters.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Report: Celtics Hiring Sam Cassell as Assistant Coach on Joe Mazzulla's StaffThe Celtics reportedly are making a key addition to their coaching staff by hiring respected assistant and 2008 NBA champion Sam Cassell under head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Read more »
Paul Pierce Recommends Sam Cassell as Addition to Celtics Coaching StaffCeltics great Paul Pierce believes the team should consider adding his former teammate Sam Cassell to the coaching staff next season.
Read more »
Emergency services rush to 'small explosion' in Strathclyde University buildingEmergency services have rushed to a 'small explosion' in a Strathclyde University building
Read more »
Ulster University apologises to education research academicsUlster University apologises to two academics who claimed Northern Ireland's separate schooling system cost an extra £226m a year
Read more »
University of Cambridge's robotic chef learns cooking recipesA university has programmed a robotic chef to make eight simple salad recipes using videos.
Read more »