Madyson Taylor is a George Mason women's soccer defender and community health major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, whose work with Crumbl Cookies became a useful example of how NIL deals work for college athletes outside the biggest programs. Her campaign generated 114,000 impressions and a 24 percent engagement rate while ranking first among individual athletes for mentions in Mason's tracking. On The Sideline, Taylor explains how a coach referral led to her first partnership, why creating sponsored content pushed her out of her comfort zone and what athletes actually receive when an NIL agreement is built around products or services instead of cash. On the field, Taylor wears No. 14 and has started across the back line and midfield for George Mason. She earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2025, was twice recognized as a Peter N. Stearns Provost Scholar-Athlete and made the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her first three seasons. She began playing soccer at nine, inspired by her grandfather, who played professionally in Colombia. Her own goals now stretch from professional soccer in Europe to the international game, after time in Colombia youth national-team camps and while pursuing an opportunity with Jamaica's senior team. Taylor also shares what it takes to balance Division I training, recovery and school without forgetting that student comes first in student-athlete.
How a Local NIL Campaign Reached 114,000 People
Madyson did not enter her Crumbl Cookies partnership as an established content creator. George Mason asked her coach to recommend a student-athlete, and she accepted even though posting on social media was outside her comfort zone. She brought teammates to the store, put on the brand's merchandise and built a reel around the experience instead of forcing a traditional advertisement. The result was 114,000 impressions, a 24 percent engagement rate and the most mentions earned by an individual athlete in Mason's campaign tracking. Her experience shows local businesses that a college athlete does not need a massive following to create measurable value. The personality, teammates and community connection around the athlete can be the campaign.
What NIL Compensation Can Look Like Beyond Cash
The biggest NIL stories often begin and end with a dollar amount, but that is not how every college athlete experiences the market. Madyson explains that her agreements have included free products, cookie cards and access to recovery services in exchange for scheduled social posts. One partnership asked for monthly content, while a contrast-therapy studio expected weekly promotion in return for access to its sauna and ice baths. No cash changed hands in those deals, but they still gave her useful products, helped her recover as an athlete and taught her how to work with a business. It is a practical look at college athlete NIL deals for families who hear about the headline contracts but rarely see the smaller local partnerships available to most athletes.
Soccer, School and the Next Level
Madyson has built her George Mason career on versatility. A center back throughout much of youth soccer, she has played on either side at outside back, across midfield and even at the nine in college. She describes speed, one-on-one defending and the ability to connect play as the strongest parts of her game. Away from the field, the community health major earned 2025 CSC Academic All-District honors, two Provost Scholar-Athlete recognitions and three Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll selections through the 2025-26 academic year. Her long-term goal is professional soccer, ideally in Europe, while nursing or physician assistant school remains part of the plan after playing. Internationally, her Colombian and Jamaican family background has opened another path: she attended Colombia youth national-team camps and is working toward an opportunity with Jamaica's senior team.
Soccer Started at Nine
Madyson began playing at nine in South Florida. Her grandfather, who played professionally in Colombia, was one of the biggest reasons she fell in love with the game.
Guest Appearance
Madyson Taylor on The Sideline
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