The email templates an HBCU student-athlete who’s landed 86 NIL deals has used to pitch brands

The partnership got the ball rolling. Smith soon signed with an agent, who was contacted in late summer 2021 by former apparel company Eastbay for a sponsored Instagram post with Smith. The Eastbay deal gave Smith a bigger audience, leading to partnerships with companies including Coach, Heydude, Boost Mobile, and Hardee’s.

Two years later, Smith has inked 86 deals worth a total in the five-figure range. Insider verified these deals and income with documentation he provided. Many of his brand partnerships have come from cold outreach to companies, though other brands like Eastbay have also approached him directly.

“My life was never really the same after that,” Smith told Insider of the Eastbay deal. “The way I had to carry myself as an adult and as a man changed.”

Smith has amassed more than 112,000 followers on TikTok, 20,000 on Instagram, and 4,500 on Twitter. His success isn’t just online: Smith’s Norfolk State team won this year both the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships.

He mixes up his content with get-ready-with-me and workout videos, and posts about football, track, comedy — or his NIL deals. He’s promoted movies, mobile games, chicken tenders, Crocs, and more. Before announcing a new NIL partnership in a post, he’ll usually tease it in an Instagram story, which he’s found can help boost engagement.

In between morning practice and evening class, Smith finds time to plan and post his content.

“People say they want NIL deals,” Smith said, “but don’t post on social media … Well, to get NIL deals, you have to post. That’s really the simplest thing.”

Smith, who’s now working toward a graduate degree at Virginia State University, has spoken to student-athletes at a handful of schools about maximizing their NIL potential. He’s also spoken about NIL at the Black Sports Business Symposium. In 2022, he won the Hustle Award at the inaugural NIL Summit.

“Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t get NIL deals at a smaller school,” Smith said he tells other student-athletes. “You could be on the bench and still get deals. It’s all about how you market yourself outside of sports.”

Smith said HBCU athletes typically don’t get the same NIL opportunities as other college athletes.

He said he hasn’t seen a committed effort from HBCU schools to teach their athletes about the industry and he hasn’t worked with NIL collectives, several of which focus on HBCUs.

“I haven’t seen it,” Smith said of NIL resources provided to HBCU student-athletes, adding that he’s been a reference point for players and parents with questions about NIL.

He said he’s cofounding a new NIL marketplace that he plans to release this fall, hoping to specifically connect HBCU athletes with brand deals.

While many companies come to Smith with deals these days, he said he still will sometimes reach out first like he did in the old days.

He shared with Insider the email template he used for those 100 emails in the summer of 2021, as well as the one he uses now when he pitches himself to brands:

Here’s the initial email template Smith used in 2021:

My name is _________(name), I play _______(position) at______ (College)! I was wondering if you wanted partnership/sponsor me. I would be a great sponsor for you Let’s Get Started!!! My Contact or Agent is ______ (number) or _____ (email).

And the template he uses to pitch brands now:

What’s up my name is Rayquan Smith, I’m known as The King of NIL and I want to share my interest in your company/product. I am a running back and track sprinter at Virginia State University, I have over 136,000 social media followers from Instagram,Twitter, and TikTok. I’m a great content creator and I want to help the young generation.