RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – In response to a judge court order last month, all athletes throughout North Carolina are inching closer to being able to cash in on their name, image and likeness while in high school.
During its monthly meeting on Thursday, the N.C. State Board of Education issued preliminary approval to a new temporary rule that allows public school athletes to earn money from NIL agreements.
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This comes after Wake County Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley made a decision in early October that reversed course on a state board policy that blocked high school athletes from making a profit off branding and endorsement deals.
The new regulation the state board officially approved Thursday codifies the judge’s ruling, as well as adds more wording on NIL guidelines.
This ruling, which the judge made on Oct. 1, concerned a lawsuit filed by the family of Grimsley High School quarterback Faizon Brandon , who’s viewed as the No. 1 ranked prospect in the country for the 2026 class. He’s verbally committed to play college football at Tennessee.