The mother of a highly ranked high school quarterback, Faizon Brandon, who is committed to the Tennessee Volunteers, is suing the state of North Carolina over its ban on public-school athletes profiting from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Rolanda Brandon filed the lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court, naming the North Carolina State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction as defendants. The lawsuit challenges a policy adopted in June that prevents public-school athletes from earning money through NIL activities, while private-school athletes in the state face no such restrictions. The complaint highlights a missed financial opportunity for Faizon, as a trading card company had offered to pay him for signing memorabilia before graduation. The family’s attorney argues that the state board overstepped its authority and seeks to overturn the ban to allow Faizon to benefit from his hard work.
