It hasn’t even been a full day since the NCAA board of governors announced new rules to allow college athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness, and we’re already seeing the groundbreaking change in action.
Where a number of college athletes announced intentions to pursue endorsement deals, Auburn quarterback Bo Nix was ready to go the second the NIL rules were changed — almost literally.
Come Thursday’s official start of the rule change, the Auburn quarterback took to Instagram and posted his first sponsored photo. He is now endorsed by Milo’s Tea Company. And he made the post right as the clock hit midnight locally.
Nix wrote:
How SWEET it is to partner with @drinkmilos for my first sponsorship as a college athlete! Milo’s Tea is a family tradition at the Nix house—especially for holidays—so I’m excited to represent the best sweet tea ever!
Even North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell was impressed with the speed that Nix moved at:
Hey, time is money after all.
While Nix appears to be among the first athletes with an endorsement deal, he definitely won’t be the last. The long overdue NIL changes are just getting started, which might also make for an awkward time for Dabo Swinney.
