How Emory's Jair Knight is gaining traction with NIL & his advice on how to get started

This is the D3Direct Newsletter, your go-to source for reliable D3 college recruiting & admissions information.

Today, we’re sharing an interview with a current D3 Athlete who is starting to gain some traction with NIL.

D3 NIL Insights - Jair Knight

In today’s post, we caught up with Emory men’s basketball guard Jair Knight to learn how he is utilizing his NIL rights.

Jair, and many others, are redefining what’s possible for D3 athletes, combining high-level performance on the court with meaningful opportunities beyond it.

Know of another D3 NIL success story we should look into? Reach out and let us know!

Jair’s NIL By the Numbers

6 total deals in 2025 (started in the Fall)
Total earnings ~$600 on four total NIL deals
Working through an agency (98strong) to help deal flow

Jair has been some of his NIL deals via his IG account, where he has an audience of just over 3k followers.

Jair Knight has done NIL deals via his IG account

Jair just started this Fall and already has seen some traction with D3 NIL, despite not having a massive social media audience.

In our interview with him, he shares his advice for other D3 athletes trying to make the most of the NIL rights. Enjoy!

Interview With Jair Knight

Advice for a D3 athlete just starting out with NIL?

Be grateful, everyone starts from somewhere. The goal is to just get your foot in the door and enjoy it from there.

Favorite NIL deal you signed so far?

Pocky, I love chocolate, and I love snacks. I was able to give it out to friends, too. It is always cool when you have stuff that your friends would enjoy.

Strategies that worked for you when reaching out to brands?

One of the best strategies when reaching out to brands is to stay as communicative as possible. If you have questions, ask them — it shows professionalism and initiative.

If a brand declines your pitch, always reply with a thank‑you message. Maintaining a positive relationship can open doors later.

Most importantly, stay confident in your image. Don’t change who you are just to land a deal. Brands look for creators who fit specific audiences, and being authentic makes it easier for the right partnerships to find you.

Lessons or personal growth from your NIL/brand work?

Sometimes, I will come across brands and products that I am very enthusiastic about, and I may not get that opportunity. The lesson I learned was to accept the feedback and apply it. This helps me become better equipped and more suitable for future brands.

One brand you’d love to work with & why?

I would love to work with Core Power. I love their protein shakes, especially after a good lift. It is something my teammates and I look forward to after every lift.

Closing thoughts?

Embrace both your athletic and academic personas. Communicate what you are interested in, as it may lead to more opportunities!

When you finally do get a brand deal, do not be shy. It is your page that you are posting on, so if you want to modify it to suit your needs, just ask - it can’t hurt. Don’t feel like your hands are tied.

Thanks for joining us, Jair!

Thanks for Reading!

We hope you learned something about D3 NIL today from Jair’s experiences and advice.

As a bonus for making it this far, here’s our most recent Youtube video on D3 Financial Aid.

Want More D3 NIL Content?

From D3 Volleyball to NIL Trailblazer - how one D3 athlete made over $7k from NIL & signed a deal with Lululemon.
D3 Athletes Monetizing NIL - Interviews with three D3 Athletes who had a combined 142 NIL deals at the time of publication
D3 NIL Collectives - How alumni of three D3 schools are creating NIL opportunities for their school’s athletes with Collectives.

D3 NIL Insights