Name, Image, and Likeness — better known as NIL — is changing the landscape of high school sports faster than ever. But what does NIL really mean for student-athletes and their families?

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Scott Grant, one of the nation’s leading voices in high school NIL education and personal branding.

Dr. Grant is a former high school teacher, athletic director, varsity head coach, and school board member who now serves as an award-winning professor at The University of Findlay, specializing in educational leadership, marketing, and social media. He is also the founder of Triple Threat Leadership, where he helps schools and student-athletes understand NIL, leadership, and brand building the right way.

In this conversation, we break down:

• What NIL actually is (and what it is not) at the high school level

• Why personal branding matters long before college recruiting

• Common NIL myths that parents and athletes still believe

• How student-athletes can build value without chasing shortcuts

• Why NIL education is about life skills, not just money

Through his nationally recognized “Branding of ME” program, Dr. Grant has helped nearly 10,000 high school student-athletes build proactive, positive, and authentic personal brands — lessons that extend far beyond sports.

Whether you’re a high school athlete, a parent navigating NIL questions, or a coach trying to guide players responsibly, this episode provides clarity, perspective, and practical insight you won’t want to miss.

🎙️ THE Varsity Voices Podcast — covering high school sports, NIL, recruiting, and the Chicago Catholic League.

#NIL #HighSchoolSports #StudentAthlete #AthleteBranding

#VarsityVoices #HighSchoolFootball #Recruiting

In this special edition of THE Varsity Voices Podcast, we flip the script for a brand-new segment: Jo Knows.
Instead of asking the questions, Joe is in the hot seat as co-host Dan leads a wide-ranging conversation about the present and future of high school football — with a deep focus on the Chicago Catholic League and the changing landscape of Illinois high school sports.

This episode dives into the biggest shifts impacting the game today, including:

• The evolution of high school football culture

• Transfer trends and competitive balance

• NIL and athlete branding at the high school level

• The impact of IHSA playoff expansion

• The changing offseason calendar and training structure

• What great programs consistently do differently

• Surprise division contenders in the new CCL alignment

• The difference between high school football then and now

• And what the future of high school sports may look like

This isn’t hot-take sports talk — it’s real perspective, real experience, and real conversation about where high school athletics are headed and why it matters to athletes, parents, coaches, and communities.

🎙 This is Jo Knows — only on THE Varsity Voices Podcast.

In this special Dear Dan episode of THE Varsity Voices Podcast, Joe sits down with Dan for a mailbag-style conversation inspired by the classic Dear Abby format — but built for the world of high school sports.

This episode dives deep into the questions parents, players, coaches, and fans are actually asking about today’s high school football landscape — from recruiting and development, to transfers, culture, pressure, and the changing realities of the modern game.

We cover topics including:

• What stats really matter in high school football (and which ones don’t)

• When you truly know who a team is during a season

• Development vs. talent and fundamentals vs. system

• Recruiting myths parents and players believe

• Starting roles, development paths, and long-term growth

• Transfers and the evolution of high school football culture

• Rule changes, playoffs, and the future of the sport in Illinois

• How perspective changes when you’re inside the game

• Real advice for young athletes navigating today’s pressure-filled environment

Dear Dan isn’t about hot takes — it’s about honest conversation, real perspective, and meaningful insight into the world of high school sports.

If you’re a parent trying to navigate recruiting, a player chasing development, a coach building culture, or a fan who cares about the future of high school football — this episode is for you.

#HighSchoolFootball #HighSchoolRecruiting #StudentAthleteDevelopment #IllinoisHighSchoolSports#YouthSports #VarsityVoices #FootballPodcast

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices, we sit down with James White, former Super Bowl–winning running back with the New England Patriots and longtime college assistant coach, to discuss his new role as head football coach at Benet Academy.

James shares why Benet was the right opportunity for his first head coaching job, how his NFL experience under a championship culture shapes his coaching philosophy, and what he believes truly matters when developing high school athletes — both on and off the field.

We also dive into:

• How NFL habits and accountability translate to high school football

• What players and parents misunderstand most about the athlete development process

• Lessons from coaching at the University of Illinois and playing for Bill Belichick

• Building culture, leadership, and discipline in today’s game

• Competing in the Chicago Catholic League and the evolving high school football landscape

Whether you’re a student-athlete, parent, coach, or high school football fan, this episode offers real insight from someone who’s lived the journey — from high school, to college, to the NFL, and now back to shaping the next generation.

🎧 Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for in-depth conversations on high school sports, recruiting, leadership, and the issues shaping the game today.

#highschoolsports #highschoolfootball #chicagocatholicleague #benetacademy #jameswhite

High school sports are changing — and not slowly.

In this episode of THEVarsity Voices, we dive into the recently passed Illinois High School Association bylaw that allows student-athletes to participate in limited non-school events during their season. On the surface, the rule sounds flexible and athlete-friendly. But when viewed through the lens of football, recruiting, and the growing influence of club and travel sports, the implications run much deeper.

We discuss what this rule could mean for high school sports and Friday night football, team culture, and competitive balance — especially when exposure events, showcases, and recruiting opportunities begin to overlap with the high school season. We also explore the financial realities behind club sports, why these programs continue to grow, and whether they are complementing high school athletics or quietly competing with them.

This episode tackles the uncomfortable questions:

• Do elite players now face pressure to protect themselves for exposure events?

• Are club and travel teams reshaping the priorities of high school sports?

• Is this a necessary evolution — or a slippery slope?

This is not about blaming athletes or families for chasing opportunity. It’s about understanding how incentives change behavior — and what we risk losing if team commitment and community take a back seat to individual exposure.

If you care about the future of high school football, this is a conversation worth hearing.

#HighSchoolFootball #IHSA #ClubSports #FootballRecruiting #YouthSports #VarsityVoices

The Chicago Catholic League football landscape is changing — and the ripple effects will be felt all the way to November.

In this episode of Varsity Voices, we break down the new 2026 Chicago Catholic League football divisional alignment, including who moved up, who moved down, and why the league continues to realign in a way no other conference in Illinois does.

We take a deep dive into:

• The new CCL football divisions for 2026

• Crossover games and why they matter more than division play

• Which teams face the toughest crossover schedules

• How crossover matchups impact IHSA playoff strength of schedule

• Why the CCL’s realignment model is unique compared to other Illinois conferences

If you follow Chicago Catholic League football, Illinois high school football, or care about how conference realignment shapes playoff paths, recruiting exposure, and competitive balance — this episode is for you.

The conversation explores the recent proposal to expand the Illinois High School football playoffs from 256 to 384 teams. The hosts discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of this expansion, including the impact on competitive integrity, the dynamics between public and private schools, and the overall experience for student-athletes. They also delve into the changes in scheduling and how these might affect teams and coaches moving forward. Ultimately, the discussion raises questions about the true purpose of playoffs in high school sports: is it about competition or providing opportunities for all?

Takeaways

• The expansion aims to provide more opportunities for student-athletes.
• Critics argue it may dilute the competitive nature of playoffs.
• Public vs. private school dynamics remain a contentious issue.
• Scheduling changes could lead to more competitive matchups.
• The playoff experience is valuable for student-athletes.
• There are concerns about the quality of games with more teams.
• The expansion may lead to more complaints from traditionalists.
• Memories created during playoffs are significant for students.
• The proposal reflects a shift towards inclusivity in high school sports.
• Future implications of the expansion will need to be monitored.

Welcome back to THE Varsity Voices — and one of the most meaningful reveals in Zuko’s All-Dawg Team: the 12 Days of Dawgs. Today, we honor the Head Coach. The leader of the pack. The one who sets the standard, builds the culture, and demands toughness, accountability, and belief every single day. Wins matter— but what this Dawg built mattered even more.