Shannon Jr.’s suspension and how it impacts NIL Deals

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Name, Image and Likeness laws are still very new across the country, and Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr.’s ongoing case gives an interesting look at how these new lucrative deals hold up while student athletes are facing potential discipline or, in Shannon’s case, criminal charges.

Shannon is facing a felony rape charge in Kansas, stemming from an accusation made in September while he was in Lawrence.

Shannon is one of the most high-profile athletes at the University of Illinois, and with that notoriety came his fair share of Name, Image and Likeness deals. The University is keeping Shannon off the basketball court as the legal process continues, but due to the way the NIL laws in Illinois are set up, the University doesn’t have any direct control over a student athlete’s NIL deal.

“I will say the Illinois law, like many laws requires a student…