With recruitment season underway, Long Island student-athletes leverage social media to gain NCAA recognition

Feb 25, 2026

By Nicholas Pepino

LONG ISLAND, NY - Student-athletes across Long Island are preparing for the next phase of their athletic and collegiate careers during current and upcoming recruitment periods, using social media to manage their brand and gain recognition from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They are not only expected to compete at the highest level, they’re also responsible for developing their professional image.

LI students are specifically focused on media platforms for self-promotion because it lets them show parts of themselves that would otherwise go unseen. According to research published by Natalyia Bredikhina, assistant professor of sport management in The University of Kansas School of Education and Human Sciences, authenticity was reported as the key strategy central to athlete branding. “Nowadays consumers aren’t just looking for the biggest or most popular brand but something that means more,” said Bredikhina. 

For student-athletes actively involved in the recruiting process, they are leveraging social media to their advantage. An article by the Cardinal Times shows how high school athletes are using social media for recruiting and networking with coaches online. “I feel like it’s easier for {colleges} to get a sense of who you are as a person if you do have a social media presence,” said Sophia Long, a high-school junior who has utilized Instagram to showcase herself playing soccer since eighth grade. 

Other than the authenticity and character development of their online profiles, students are posting highlight reels, uploading schedules for coaches to view their games, and direct messaging coaches to ask about positional needs. “Coaches turn to social media to get a better understanding of a recruit’s personality and character,” said Next College Student Athlete (NCSA). This is becoming apparent across all the major social networks. 

On Long Island, Hofstra Universities own Nil Kayaalp is paving the way for future student-athletes to use social media for personal branding to reach new heights in their pursuits. Kayaalp, a Turkish-born volleyball player and television studies major, has surpassed over 145,000 TikTok followers and over 68,400 Instagram followers by developing a name for herself on the court and online. 

“I feel like {social media and volleyball} belong to each other,” she said. “I feel like they go together good because that’s kind of the same idea that you perform and produce on the court and on social media you produce on your phone.” 

Kayaalp’s presence as a student-athlete and a creator has not only helped grow her following, but it has in business as well. In January 2025, she signed a name, image, likeness (NIL) deal with QDOBA Mexican Eats in East Meadow, Long Island. As stated by the NCAA, students-athletes may receive compensation from third parties for the use of their NIL, such as social media content, brand appearances, or the promotion of products or services. 

Kayaalp is leading the future of Long Island student-athletes by example, showing first-hand what can be achieved through the power of brand development. “I want to show that I am an athlete and that this is my way to live life. That’s what I present on my social media. So, this is how I am in my athlete life, and this is how I want you guys to see how I am.”