Rutgers’ NIL landscape is undergoing major changes, as the Knights of the Raritan NIL Collective will be phased out, with all NIL operations shifting in-house, according to an email from collective president Jon Newman.
Newman, along with several prominent members of the Rutgers community, founded the Knights of the Raritan Collective in March 2022, helping the Scarlet Knights establish an NIL foundation at a time when the athletic department was still cautious about entering the space.
“As president of Knights of the Raritan and on behalf of our board, I want to personally thank you for your continued support of Rutgers student-athletes and our NIL initiatives,” Newman said. “As Rutgers coaches and staff have often told us, they don’t know where they’d be without your commitment.”
Once again, we want to express our deepest gratitude.
From the beginning, our goal was never to operate indefinitely. Our vision was to eventually partner with the athletic department once it developed a strong and strategic approach to supporting student-athlete NIL opportunities — one that could guide Rutgers confidently through the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics.
We’re pleased to share that we’ve found that leadership in our new athletic director, Keli Zinn, who has our complete trust and support.
With that, the Knights of The Raritan will officially conclude its role as Rutgers Athletics’ NIL collective — a transition we’ve been preparing for since meeting with Keli over the summer. Effective immediately, all recurring monthly contributions to KTR have been stopped.
We now encourage supporters to continue backing Rutgers Athletics through the channels outlined by RFund.
On a personal note, I want to thank the KTR board for their dedication, generosity, and countless volunteer hours. None of this would have been possible without them.
We remain incredibly proud of what’s been accomplished and optimistic about the future of our Scarlet Knights.
At a time when NIL support was more critical than ever, KTR stepped forward — securing deals with over 140 student-athletes to ensure they remained a part of the Rutgers family.
Knights of the Raritan Accomplishments
Throughout the years, Knights of the Raritan consistently rose to the occasion with creative fundraisers designed to boost the NIL resources available to Scarlet Knights coaches — especially during times when the university administration was reluctant to take the lead.
One of their most successful efforts was The Scarlet Ticket — an exclusive giveaway for collective members that offered two premium season tickets to nearly every major Rutgers athletic program, including football, men’s and women’s basketball, and wrestling. The initiative drew widespread attention and led to a notable surge in donor participation.
In addition, the collective launched multiple matching donation campaigns, most notably the YouKnighted Campaign in partnership with RFund. Backed by a $250,000 anonymous pledge, the goal was to match that amount through community support — a target they didn’t just meet but far exceeded, ultimately surpassing $1.3 million in total contributions to benefit current and future Rutgers student-athletes.
Beyond major fundraising drives, KTR also rewarded its members with a variety of exclusive experiences and giveaways — including pregame locker room access, signed memorabilia, team merchandise, custom whiskey sets, mini-kegs, and more — all designed to deepen engagement and appreciation among Scarlet Knight supporters.
Athletic Excellence Fund + R NIL
On Monday, Rutgers University unveiled the creation of the Athletic Excellence Fund, a new initiative designed to support revenue-sharing with Rutgers student-athletes, according to an official press release.
The fund aims to provide essential financial backing to help the Scarlet Knights recruit, retain, and develop elite talent across all sports programs. Donations to the fund will be tax deductible, and contributors will earn Priority Points for their gifts. Additionally, the Athletic Excellence Fund will supply the necessary resources to sustain R NIL operations and further strengthen the Rutgers Athletics brand both within the Big Ten and on the national stage.
Alongside this, Rutgers also introduced R NIL, the university’s new in-house NIL initiative, which will take the lead in supporting current and prospective student-athletes. The program, managed through the Scarlet Assets Management Company (SAMCO), is designed to build partnerships and expand NIL opportunities—ensuring Rutgers remains competitive in the growing national landscape of college athletics.
No Comment! Be the first one.