Attending a small school in a lesser-known conference, the volleyball player was not sure if local businesses would want to use her name or image in ads and other promotional activity — and national connections seemed impossible.
But by reaching out to companies on her own, she was able to secure several so-called name, image and likeness, or NIL, deals. She earned $100 writing reviews for Twanie’s Terrific Treats, a cookie store in Lake Charles. And Avoli, a women’s volleyball brand, sends her products in exchange for Tillman posting videos on Instagram of her taking them out of the box.
