All-American Iowa Sprinter Kalen Walker Chases Down NIL Deals
PHOTO: Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com
Iowa track and field star Kalen Walker reacts after running a 40-yard dash in 4.15 seconds, unofficially, in an exhibition during halftime of an Iowa football game in October 2024 at Kinnick Stadium.
Kalen Walker (24BS) knew running the 40-yard dash at Kinnick Stadium would garner some attention.
When the All-American crossed the finish line last fall in 4.15 seconds—the second-fastest unofficial time ever recorded—it turned heads. That experience also opened up doors for potential NIL deals.
“I really feel like I own a small business, and my goal with NIL is to provide value to anyone who partners with me,” says Walker, who is currently collaborating with Major Fitness, a home workout equipment company. “I want what someone is paying me to be worth it for them.”
Walker, who has 104,000 followers on Instagram, is a prime example of a student-athlete using his social media following to attract and secure NIL deals. Scott Brickman, general manager for NIL and strategy within the UI Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, says that student-athletes are cashing in on online audiences they’ve built.
“You don’t have to be a high-profile athlete in a high-profile sport to get an NIL deal,” says Brickman. “If you have a strong presence on social media, a savvy business is going to want to partner with you and tap into your social media followers.”
Since July 1, all NIL deals of $600 or more go through NIL Go, a centralized clearinghouse operated by Deloitte that oversees and regulates student-athlete endorsement deals. Dozens of Hawkeye NIL deals have been approved since this summer—benefiting student-athletes in many of Iowa’s 22 sports.
Brickman says these companies—including local and regional banks, ag and health and wellness companies, car dealerships, and property managers—are looking to build relationships and align with a student-athlete that fits their brand.
Walker—who has worked with 10 businesses over the past two years and is grateful for those who support Iowa’s track and field program—makes cold calls, schedules meetings, and pitches his own deals. He says it’s been a valuable learning experience—one that will help him in the future as he plans to continue competing and launch a coaching career.
“I’ve gained so much knowledge about how companies work, but I’ve also learned that I need to take ownership of my career,” says the Eddyville, Iowa, native, who hopes to contend for Big Ten and NCAA championships this year in the 60- and 100-meter dash. “Don’t wait around for anyone else to figure it out for you. Figure it out yourself—and run with it.”
PHOTO: Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com
Kalen Walker celebrates his gold medal performance in the 100-meter dash this past spring at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
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