In this episode, we delve into the intricacies of NIL opportunities, shedding light on the challenge many college students face in balancing entrepreneurial ventures with their academic and extracurricular commitments. Guest host Paxton Elrod, alongside panelists Christian Scott, Derrick Furlow Jr., and Yvonne Whaley, explore how this balancing act affects their mental health, wellness, and overall success as budding entrepreneurs and students.

Paxton Elrod Host & Moderator 

Christian Scott Former collegiate baseball player at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville , B.A. in Journalism and Communications, 2 Men’s College World Series appearances, SEC champion, Field Operations Associate at S2 Cognition, a scientifically validated digital platform that dives into how athletes process information during game time decisions 

Derrick Furlow Jr. Former collegiate and professional football athlete, with B.A. in Legal Studies and M.S. in Sports Psychology from the University of Tennessee, CEO of Sport Life Business: Speaker and author, Founder of SLB The Agency, the first NIL-focused mental health sports agency, Co-founder of Onrise, an athlete mental health company, President of XHunger, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger in America

Yvonne Whaley Former Division I softball athlete (Texas Tech and Pitt), Former professional Softball athlete (OKC Spark), Current GA for Student-Athlete Development at the University of Tennessee, B.S. of Psychology - University of Pittsburgh, Graduating May 2025 M.S. Sports Management - University of Tennessee