William Whitlow Jr. unfazed by ‘big-time paychecks’ offered while in the portal
University of Memphis lineman William Whitlow Jr. (94) comes up with a loose ball during a Sept. 23, 2023 game against the University of Missouri in St. Louis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Defensive lineman William Whitlow Jr. joined University of Memphis football at one of the most unique times in college sports.
The NIL era was born in the summer of 2021 when the NCAA allowed student-athletes to earn money from their name, image and likeness. An opportunity that never legally existed in college athletics. Whitlow — a former standout at Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Alabama — was entering his freshman season with Memphis at the time.
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Frank Bonner II
Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.
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