In the competitive world of NIL licensing, athletes are finally getting to cash in on the value of their names while still playing college sports. And one local school is rapidly earning a reputation as a major launching platform for student-athletes to get their piece of that lucrative pie.
LSU has already had two of its female athletes – national championship-winning basketballer Angel Reese and gymnast/social media star Olivia Dunne – appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated thanks to an article spotlighting their marketing successes.
Now the Tiger men are starting to catch up to the women.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is one of the players from across the college football landscape featured in an ad campaign from Powerade.
“It’s a blessing,” Daniels told Fox News Digital. “I feel grateful to have my first national NIL deal with Powerade. Being able to do that and incorporate the Win Bar — the Win Bar means a lot to not just me, but the state of Louisiana and LSU. It just means more.”
Before donning the purple and gold, Daniels spent three seasons at Arizona State. He said the marketing heft in Baton Rouge was a big factor in his decision to transfer there.
“It’s the brand that LSU has,” he said. “You’re playing at a premiere university in the best conference where all eyes are on you. And then, just the people that came before you that’s paved the way for us, as far as Shaq (Shaquille O'Neal), Tyrann Mathieu. Those type of people have so much power.”
Currently, Daniels ranks #83 among all college athletes with an estimated value of $562,000, according to On3. In addition to Powerade, Daniels appears in ad campaigns for Beats By Dre and Raising Cane’s.