PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers Athletics announced the launch of R Edge, an educational platform powered by Opendorse Ready, to assist the Scarlet Knights with the management and development of their name, image and likeness (NIL). The partnership with Opendorse will empower athletes to understand, build, and protect their brands with the industry's leading student-athlete education and marketing technology.

"The R Edge program is a major step in helping our student-athletes maximize their potential," said Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs. "We make every effort to prepare our student-athletes for success in the classroom and in competition. In this fast-changing landscape, we also want to do everything we can to prepare them to take advantage of these new opportunities. The New York metropolitan area offers unique access and exposure for any student-athlete competing for the Scarlet Knights."
 
"Rutgers student-athletes have a unique opportunity in the new era of name, image and likeness rights," said Opendorse CEO Blake Lawrence. "Their proximity to the New York metropolitan area and the commitment of the athletic department stand out as powerful factors to encourage success. This program will help Rutgers student-athletes make the most of this moment and prepare them to succeed long past their time on campus."
 
R Edge is a comprehensive program based on the pillars of education, assessment and performance. Student-athletes will be provided with individualized analysis of their social media platforms with in-depth personalized insights and valuation.
 
Through educational tools, student-athletes will be prepared to examine potential opportunities and understand how to maximize their NIL value. The Opendorse partnership includes live consultation sessions, and on-demand access to the NIL Masterclass, a video series featuring experts on brand building, entrepreneurship, content creation, endorsements, and financial literacy.
 
R Edge will enhance the student-athlete educational component with unique courses tailored to provide instruction on contracts, trademark licensing, tax implications and the creation of an LLC or foundation.
 
Situated in the nation's largest media market, Rutgers student-athletes are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the exposure from nearly seven million television households in the most populated market area with over 20 million people. Rutgers also offers access to the country's most successful corporations and brands, and membership in the premier college athletics conference in the Big Ten.
 
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 650 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eighth-oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
 
About Opendorse Ready
Opendorse Ready is the elite NIL education solution in college athletics. The program provides student-athletes with industry-proven assessment, education, and performance tools to understand, build, and protect their personal brands as we enter a new era. Having facilitated endorsement opportunities with thousands of professional athletes since 2012, Opendorse has built Ready on a foundation of tangible insights and data from a decade of athlete marketing experience.