Missouri’s Damon Wilson Donates NIL Earnings to Youth Football Program in Hometown
Before becoming a five-star recruit, Damon Wilson’s football journey began in his hometown of Venice, Florida. After playing college football at Georgia, he transferred to Missouri this year, where he’s preparing for his first season with the Tigers. 
As he settles into his new role at Missouri, Wilson decided to give back to his roots. Using his NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) earnings, he made a generous donation to his local youth football program, the Venice Vikings, in Florida.
Wilson matched donations during a fundraising campaign that raised over $6,000, and he also contributed to his high school program, where he emerged as a top recruit. Altogether, his donations exceeded $10,000, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wilson sees these contributions as part of his mission to support his community and the programs that helped shape his football career.
“NIL is here to stay,” Wilson told the Post-Dispatch. “It’s probably gonna be around forever. I want to start a cycle where athletes give back to their communities and local youth teams because we were all kids who played football.”
Wilson, with an On3 NIL valuation of $989,000, spent two seasons at Georgia, where he had his best year in 2024, recording 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries. After his sophomore season, he transferred and became the No. 7-ranked player in the 2024 transfer portal. He committed to Missouri in January and is set to make his debut with the Tigers next month.
Even before playing for Missouri, Wilson is dedicated to being part of the growing trend of college football players using their NIL earnings to give back. He acknowledged that not all athletes are in a position to donate large amounts, as some are focused on supporting their families, but he believes more players are trending toward making a positive impact.
“I just hope people see what I’m doing,” Wilson said. “Not everyone can donate because of their personal circumstances. But if you’re able to, I think a lot of college football players are moving toward giving back to their communities. It’s about giving, not just taking.”
No Comment! Be the first one.