Tennessee Vols Football Players Donate $10K From Their NIL Earnings To Revitalize Knoxville Community Center With Heartfelt Purpose

The Tennessee Volunteers football team continues to redefine what it means to be a student-athlete in the modern era. This time, it’s not with a game-winning drive or a viral highlight reel. Instead, it’s the heart behind the helmets that’s captured the community’s attention.

In a powerful show of solidarity and social consciousness, several members of the Tennessee Volunteers football team have pooled together $10,000 from their own Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings to support a local community center in East Knoxville. The gesture was not prompted by a media campaign or a brand sponsorship—it came from the players themselves. Driven by personal ties, genuine gratitude, and a desire to give back, the donation is already generating a ripple effect of inspiration across the Volunteer State.

The group behind the donation includes both offensive and defensive leaders, among them junior linebacker Bryson Eason, senior quarterback Joe Milton III, sophomore wideout Squirrel White, and freshman running back Cameron Seldon. United by their passion for the city that’s embraced them, the players identified the Lonsdale Community Center as a deserving recipient. Located just minutes from Neyland Stadium, the Lonsdale center has long served as a hub for after-school programs, mentoring, and meals for underserved families.

For Eason, the initiative was deeply personal.

“Knoxville means something to me,” said the Memphis native, who has become a vocal leader on and off the field. “The people here show up for us every Saturday. They support us win or lose. This is just a small way we can show them the same kind of love.”

The players first began discussing the idea back in April during a routine team meeting focused on NIL literacy and community engagement. What started as a casual brainstorm soon evolved into a coordinated plan. With the support of Tennessee’s NIL coordinator and their own financial advisors, the players each committed to donating a portion of their NIL profits to fund improvements at the community center.

By June, the group had raised the $10,000 needed to complete the first phase of upgrades, which include new equipment for the youth gym, repairs to the center’s basketball court, and expanded Wi-Fi access to help students with homework and virtual tutoring.

“This is about planting seeds,” said Milton, who recently completed his final spring in orange and white. “We’re using NIL to empower our future—not just ours, but the next generation growing up in this community.”

The Lonsdale Community Center serves more than 120 kids weekly, many of whom come from low-income households or single-parent homes. For director Yolanda Stokes, the players’ gift was both unexpected and transformational.

“I cried when I heard,” Stokes admitted. “We’ve had celebrities come through, sure—but what these boys did, from their own pockets, means the world. They didn’t just write a check. They asked what the kids needed. They listened. They showed up.”

And show up they did. Earlier this month, the Vols players visited Lonsdale for a surprise unveiling. What was supposed to be a simple ribbon-cutting turned into a community celebration. Children flooded the gym, newly stocked with gear bearing Tennessee’s orange Power T. A row of computers hummed with activity, students exploring software they hadn’t been able to access before. On the repainted basketball court, Eason and White took on local teens in a pickup game, drawing cheers and laughter from the sidelines.

Coach Josh Heupel praised his players’ actions, noting that their commitment reflects the broader values of the program.

“This is what leadership looks like,” Heupel said. “It’s not just about how you play. It’s how you live. These young men have embraced the Tennessee tradition not only by excelling on the field but by uplifting the community that supports them. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The NCAA’s 2021 NIL reform gave college athletes unprecedented freedom to monetize their personal brands. While some have secured six-figure endorsement deals and national sponsorships, others have taken a more localized approach, leveraging regional ties and fan loyalty. At Tennessee, NIL collectives like the Volunteer Club and Spyre Sports Group have emphasized community-based partnerships and character-driven marketing—a philosophy that clearly influenced this latest gesture.

Seldon, one of the youngest contributors, said he was initially unsure if his NIL income could stretch far enough to contribute.

“I haven’t even played a full season,” he said, grinning. “But the older guys told me, ‘It ain’t about how much—it’s about what it means.’ I was proud to pitch in. These kids remind me of where I came from.”

This spirit of giving has not gone unnoticed beyond campus. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon issued a statement applauding the players for using their platforms to drive meaningful impact.

“They embody the true Volunteer spirit,” Kincannon wrote. “Our young athletes are showing the country that college football can be a force for good—not just entertainment.”

Back at the Lonsdale center, plans are already underway for phase two of renovations, including a summer mentorship program led by student-athletes and academic workshops geared toward high school students preparing for college. Several Tennessee players have expressed interest in volunteering regularly, helping to tutor students and host sports clinics.

Perhaps the most powerful moment of the unveiling came when a fifth-grader named Jamal stood up and addressed the crowd. Nervously holding a microphone, he thanked the Vols players for “not forgetting about us.”

“I want to play football, too,” he said. “Maybe one day I’ll be like y’all.”

For Milton, that was the moment it all came full circle.

“That’s it, right there,” he said afterward. “If we can spark even one dream, all of this is worth it.”

The ripple effect of this act has already begun to expand. Other student-athletes from Tennessee’s basketball, baseball, and track teams have reached out to explore similar initiatives. Faculty members have proposed integrating NIL giving into the school’s leadership development program. And fans? They’ve taken to social media in droves, flooding comment sections with praise, donations, and calls to action.

One post read: “These aren’t just athletes. These are future leaders. Thank you for giving back to Knoxville.”

As the college football season approaches, the spotlight will inevitably return to touchdowns, rankings, and rivalries. But for a group of Tennessee Vols players, their biggest win may have already come—not under the lights of Neyland, but in the bright eyes of the kids at Lonsdale.

Because in Knoxville, the Volunteer spirit isn’t just a slogan. It’s a way of life. And thanks to these young men, it’s burning brighter than ever.