NIL Collective “Runners Rising Project” Formally Launches; Signs Male, Female UTSA Athletes
Peers nominated Jonathan Tapia, Lexi Bolton to serve as ambassadors
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Runners Rising Project (R2P), a volunteer-run not-for-profit (501c(3) status pending) dedicated to empowering the University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) student-athletes to capitalize their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), formally launched today, as it signs its first ambassadors, Jonathan Tapia (baseball) and Lexi Bolton (soccer). Tapia and Bolton's peers nominated them to serve as ambassadors for R2P based on their community involvement, high moral character, and embodiment of the collective’s core values: integrity, inclusion, action, community, and leadership.
The Runners Rising Project was formed by "The Bird Gang Tailgate," a group of passionate UTSA alumni that tailgate together for the school’s athletic events.
“What started as an in-jest suggestion for The Bird Gang Tailgate to become the premier NIL collective for our alma mater morphed overnight into a movement to mobilize the city and business community to support UTSA’s student-athletes,” said R2P Executive Director Eddie Benningfield. “Our mission is to develop and empower those student-athletes to become tomorrow’s leaders--through developing a network of businesses, mentors, and fans in the San Antonio community to facilitate and create NIL and networking opportunities for student-athletes and establish post-graduate opportunities,” Benningfield concluded.
R2P helps UTSA student-athletes use their name, image, and likeness to be compensated for blog posts, in-person appearances, video interviews, and traditional endorsements. R2P aims to provide student-athletes with professional mentorship, assistance with personal branding, and networking opportunities to achieve long-term success on-and-off the field. The Runners Rising Project provides direct financial compensation to select student-athletes through NIL deals. The key to these deals are traits that reflect R2P's core values.
Jonathan Tapia and Lexi Bolton are leaders on-and-off the field. Bolton is a Palm Beach Garden, Florida native, majoring in business management. She is a three-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selectee, earned three times the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal, and is a three-year starter on the varsity soccer team as a forward. Tapia is a San Antonio, Texas native, majoring in kinesiology. He is a four-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selectee and is a four-year starter on the varsity baseball team as an infielder and outfielder.
“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with these student-athletes,” said Director of Player Scouting and Outreach Donovan Davis. “Jonathan and Lexi embody everything we look for in a Runners Rising athlete. They are leaders on & off the field, are of high character, and excel in the classroom. UTSA fans and donors of Runners Rising Project can look forward to varying content from them very shortly.”
Runners Rising Project offers fans membership into the Project, with perks ranging from “Insider” to “Founder,” including exclusive social media networks, access to certain UTSA student-athletes, private events, and Zoom Q and As. Fans can sign up for memberships by contributing to the website’s convenient, secure donation platform. All profits are provided directly to UTSA student-athletes. R2P’s staff consists of 20 volunteers, providing direct support to the collective and assisting UTSA student-athletes with professional mentorship and networking opportunities.
Businesses of all sizes can contact Runners Rising Project for assistance and guidance in establishing NIL deals with UTSA’s student-athletes. The student-athletes influence across San Antonio will provide game-changing results for businesses and deepen the relationship between UTSA and the community.
