As NIL cash floods college athletics, coaches warn of growing exploitation by unregulated 'street agents' who position themselves between athletes and lucrative deals. These unlicensed middlemen, often former players or coaches, approach high school athletes through social media and private facilities, promising representation while taking excessive fees or percentages of earnings.

A survey revealed 67% of athletes who received high school NIL help gave the person a percentage of their earnings, with only half satisfied with the arrangement. Coaches report about 25% have seen athletes approached by agents, with 70% believing these intermediaries don't act in the athlete's best interest.

The issue reached a tipping point in the case of Texas high school player Draden Fullbright, whose agent demanded 25% of his $36,000 annual NIL deal after he committed to Oklahoma State. Coaches now call for regulations to protect athletes from these increasingly common exploitation scenarios.