Denny's announces NIL deal with nation's top offensive linemen

Denny’s has announced an NIL deal with some of the top offensive linemen in the country from Clemson, Ohio State, USC and Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

“The All-Pancaker team” consists of Clemson freshman tackle Tristan Leigh, Ohio State right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, USC right tackle Jalen McKenzie and Arkansas at Pine Bluff left tackle Mark Evans II.

“At Denny’s, we love college football just as much as we love our pancakes and our patrons. Over the course of their promising athletic careers, these remarkable young players have perfected pancaking the opposition,” John Dillon, Denny’s EVP and Chief Brand Officer, said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Jalen, Mark, Nicholas and Tristan as they shape the future of this beloved sport and universities with their hard work on the field and in the classroom.”

Dillon stated that it was “important to us to bring together a group of athletes representing both Power Five and HBCU schools.”

As part of their NIL deals, the All Pancaker-Team will participate in Denny’s brand initiatives, including starring in a Signing Day video, will post social content ahead of their game days and promote Denny’s monthly Spotlight Stacks.

Petit-Frere and Evans start on the right and left side of their team’s line, respectively. Petit-Frere is a member of the 2021 Outland Trophy Watch List. Last season, with Petit-Frere leading the way, Ohio State ranked No. 7 in the nation in yards per game and No. 8 in rushing yards per game.

Evans and Arkansas at Pine Bluff didn’t play last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the SWAC season. In 2019, Evans received first-team All-SWAC honors. Heading into this fall, Evans was named to the BOXTOROW Preseason All-American team.

Leigh is the only freshman on the four-man team, and was rated as one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country per On3’s 2021 top 300 rankings. He is not listed a starter heading into the season, but could see playing time.

McKenzie has appeared in 30 games in his USC career, making 14 starts, including all six games last season. In fall camp, second-year freshman Jonah Monheim pushed McKenzie for the starting right tackle job and just days away from the season-opener, there is speculation that Monheim could have unseated the incumbent starter, per the LA Times and USA Today.