Tennessee baseball star Blaine Brown is involved in a NIL dispute with Rice, D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers first reported Wednesday. The South Main Collective, Rice’s NIL collective, is suing Brown over a NIL deal he signed during his freshman season.
The NIL deal that Brown signed in February 2025 stretched until August 2027, through the first three years of Brown’s college tenure and until he is draft eligible. According to Rogers’ report, Brown received $20,000 in NIL payment during his freshman season and an additional $9,250 following the season and before Brown entered the transfer portal.
The lawsuit has no bearing whatsoever on Brown’s eligibility this season with Tennessee. He could end up having to pay back some money to the South Main Collective, but no other punishment seems likely.
It could prove as a distraction for Brown but otherwise seems to mostly be a nothing burger with the South Man Collective’s argument being a weak one.
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Brown was a First Team All-AAC designated hitter and a unanimous Freshman All-American at Rice last season. The lefty hit .292 with 10 home runs, 12 doubles and 38 RBIs for a struggling Rice team last season while posting an 8.9% walk rate and 17.4% strikeout rate.
A projected top 10 pick in the 2027 MLB Draft, Brown is off to a strong start to his Tennessee tenure. Through 12 games, Brown is hitting .313 with four home runs, five doubles and 13 RBIs. He’s started at left field and designated hitter so far this season.
Brown is a two-way player who has pitched in three midweek games so far this season. He’s posted a 4.50 ERA in two innings pitched. After posting scoreless outings in his first two appearances, Brown hit a batter and walked two more before exiting without recording an out on Tuesday night against ETSU.
Tennessee baseball is back in action on Wednesday evening in a midweek bout against Oakland. First pitch is at 4 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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