You’ve probably seen the video. A student manager, boombox draped over his shoulder like a championship belt, rapping every single lyric to Lud Foe’s "In & Out" while leading a line of college basketball giants through a dark tunnel. That was Amir Khan. Or, as the internet dubbed him during the 2025 March Madness run: "Aura." He wasn't just a meme. He was a movement. Honestly, for a few weeks in early 2025, Amir Khan was more famous than half the starting lineups in the NCAA Tournament. When McNeese State head coach Will Wade took the job at NC State, the big question wasn't just about the roster. It was about whether the aura was coming to Raleigh too.
The answer was a resounding yes. Until it wasn't.
The Viral Leap to NC State
Amir Khan's arrival at NC State felt like a match made in NIL heaven. After all, NC State had just come off their own miracle run, and the fan base was hungry for personality. Khan brought it in spades. He wasn't just a manager anymore; he was a graduate assistant with a six-figure NIL portfolio. Imagine that. A guy whose job involves wiping sweat off the floor is signing deals with Buffalo Wild Wings, Insomnia Cookies, and TurboTax.
He actually showed up. He was on the court in Raleigh. During the 2025 summer sessions and "The Basketball Tournament" (TBT), fans spotted him rebounding for Wolfpack legends like D.J. Burns Jr. It felt right. The swagger of McNeese was blending with the "Why Not Us?" energy of the Wolfpack.
But the marriage between Amir Khan and NC State was shorter than a typical off-season.
Why the "Aura" Disappeared from Raleigh
By December 2025, the rumors were flying. People on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) were convinced there was some massive NIL dispute. Some "parody" accounts even claimed he was demanding seven figures to stay.
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It was all noise. Fake news.
The reality was much more human. In late 2025, Amir Khan officially left the NC State program and headed back to Lake Charles, Louisiana. He rejoined the McNeese Cowboys. Why? It basically came down to two things: family and credits.
- Credit Transfer Issues: Moving from a Southland Conference school to a massive ACC institution like NC State isn't always seamless for a graduate student. He ran into roadblocks with his academic transition.
- Homesickness: Khan is a Lake Charles native. He grew up five minutes from McNeese. The pull of home is real, especially when you're 23 and the spotlight is getting a little too hot.
"I'm just glad to be back," Khan told local media after returning to the Cowboys' bench in December. No drama. No beef with Will Wade. Just a guy who realized the grass isn't always greener in North Carolina, even if the stage is bigger.
Breaking Down the Amir Khan NIL Phenomenon
We have to talk about the money because it changed the game for everyone behind the scenes. Khan wasn't just "lucky." He was the first student manager to treat his role like a brand.
According to reports from CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Khan’s earnings "easily soared into the six figures." Think about that. He had a Topps trading card. He had a bobblehead from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame.
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At NC State, the expectation was that his brand would explode even further. The ACC is a different beast. More TV time. More eyes. More corporate interest. But the move back to McNeese proved something important: for Amir Khan, the "aura" wasn't about the power of the conference. It was about the connection to the team.
Is he still at NC State?
No. If you're looking for him on the Wolfpack bench during the 2026 season, you won't find him. He is officially back with the McNeese State Cowboys. He resumed his duties as a manager there in late November 2025, appearing on the sidelines during their game against Incarnate Word on December 1.
What This Means for College Sports
The saga of Amir Khan at NC State is a case study in the modern NIL era. It proves that anyone—literally anyone—can become a "star" if they have enough charisma and a well-timed viral clip.
- Managers as Influencers: Don't be surprised if more managers try to emulate the "Aura" walk.
- The "Will Wade" Effect: Players and staff follow coaches they believe in. Khan’s loyalty to Wade was the only reason he left Louisiana in the first place.
- The Value of Authenticity: Khan’s brand worked because he actually worked. He wasn't just dancing; he was putting up "Wilt Chamberlain numbers" in rebounding and court maintenance during practice.
Actionable Takeaways from the Amir Khan Story
If you’re a student-athlete—or even just a student—there are real lessons here about brand building in 2026.
Don't ignore the "boring" roles. Amir Khan turned the most invisible job in sports into a lucrative career. He didn't need to score 20 points a night; he just needed to be the most enthusiastic person in the building.
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Verify before you believe the "NIL Dispute" headlines. Most of the drama surrounding Khan leaving NC State was fabricated by engagement-bait accounts. If a story sounds too wild to be true (like a manager demanding millions), it probably is.
Prioritize fit over prestige. Khan could have stayed in the ACC. He chose his hometown. In the high-pressure world of college athletics, mental health and being near family often outweigh the prestige of a "Power Four" logo.
The "Aura" hasn't faded; it just moved back to the 337 area code. NC State fans will always have that brief window in 2025 when the most famous manager in the world wore the red and white.
Check the McNeese roster or their official social media for the latest on his "manager stats" as he finishes out his senior year back where it all started.
Next Steps:
If you're following the NC State basketball season, keep an eye on how the program fills the "hype" void left by Khan. You can also look up the official McNeese Athletics page to see the latest "Aura" walk videos now that he’s back in the building.