LOOK: Auburn linebacker appears in worldwide Under Armour ad
NIL is an evolving product, with programs across the country helping their athletes secure luxurious advertisement deals to profit off their name. The Auburn Tigers are the latest to take advantage of NIL, helping one of their star defensive players strike a deal with Under Armour.
Auburn Director of Recruiting Darren Uscher took to Twitter on Tuesday, showing casing the latest NIL deal for a Tigers player. Linebacker Owen Pappoe is appearing in a “worldwide” seasonal training advertisement with Under Armour. In the picture provided, Pappoe has a quote about leggings while working out in Auburn facilities.
“I’m not usually a leggings guy, but man, these were perfect,” Pappoe said in the ad.
You can check out the Under Armour ad, in a store here.
Auburn has been working with Under Armour since 2006, with the two sides agreeing to a new deal back in 2015 for an additional nine years. The Tigers’ athletic department is bringing in $78.1 million overall through the contract and it will expire in the middle of 2025.
Now, the apparel company is helping Auburn athletes, specifically, Pappoe, grow their brand through NIL deals. Between the leggings and the orange-colored shirt the linebacker is wearing, he will appear in stores throughout the world.
On the football field, Pappoe will enter the 2022 season as one of the most important defensive players for head coach Brian Harsin. He decided to return instead of declaring for the 2022 NFL draft and will feature under new defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding.
Pappoe was named preseason third-team All-SEC by the coaches before suffering injuries throughout the season. The linebacker recorded 23 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hurries in just five appearances. A former five-star prospect according to the On3 Consensus, Pappoe will have to shine if the Tigers are going to turn it around in Year Two of Harsin.