The floodgates have opened with NIL rules now allowing NCAA athletes to cash in on their name, image, and likeness (hence, NIL). Several players have taken advantage of the new laws already, and Auburn football has already seen a player strike a deal.
The player? None other than Bo Nix, who Tiger fans have already rallied behind due to the wildly popular “Dark Horse” A-Day meme.
While his play has underwhelmed after two seasons on the Plains, Nix has maintained his star status due to the sky-high expectations he came in with as a second-generation Auburn football signal-caller and the hope that a new coach with a less antiquated playbook could prop his game up. As a 5-star in-state recruit continuing his family lineage as the main man under center, Nix has always had the world at his fingertips.
It’s no wonder that it took no time at all for Nix to land a sponsorship when the clock reached midnight this morning:
Auburn QB Bo Nix has announced he’s partnering with Milo’s. The first NIL deal for an Auburn athlete. pic.twitter.com/xzPzRzDCwp
— Christian Clemente (@CClemente247) July 1, 2021
Milo’s is an Alabama treasure, having started in 1946 in Birmingham, where its headquarters are still stationed. Since then the fast food has expanded to 16 locations around the Birmingham area with another opening up in Tuscaloosa. Auburn residents can enjoy the sweet tea brand by picking up a bottle not unlike the one Nix is holding at your local Circle K or Marathon gas station.
Nix is still one of the biggest names on the Auburn football roster, with 2022 NFL Draft #1 pick expectations once defining his potential. With TJ Finley now in town, though, that alone won’t help him keep his starting role under Bryan Harsin and Mike Bobo.
Fly War Eagle will keep you updated on the latest NIL buzz.