Outback announces NIL deal with multiple college basketball stars

Outback Steakhouse is getting in on the NIL game. On Wednesday, Outback revealed an NIL deal with 12 college basketball stars.

2.2.22 🚨🏀 We’re excited to continue our support of college athletes and welcome our newest players to #OutbackTeamMATES. pic.twitter.com/63VPXmrW0N

— Outback Steakhouse (@Outback) February 2, 2022

“2.2.22. We’re excited to continue our support of college athletes and welcome our newest players to #OutbackTeamMATES,” tweeted Outback.

Moreover, Darren Rovell provided further insight into the program.

“Outback announces NIL deal with 12 college basketball players,” tweeted Rovell. “Who will have their favorite appetizers, entrees and sides listed with their names nationwide on Outback’s online ordering site.”

As you can see, you can now order the favorites of college basketball stars like Duke guard Trevor Keels while at Outback. If you’re having a tough time deciding on the menu, just trust the athletes to lead you in the right direction.

Moreover, the chosen twelve features six men and six women — one each from certain schools. In addition to Keels, Duke women’s basketball star Lexi Gordon joins him on the deal. Elsewhere, stars like North Carolina‘s Caleb Love and Deja Kelly also were selected for Outback’s NIL program.

On the men’s side, Michigan‘s Hunter Dickinson, Arizona State‘s Marcus Bagley, Maryland‘s Julian Reese and Villanova’s Collin Gillespie were selected. On the other hand, Outback chose Michigan‘s Naz Hillmon, Arizona State‘s Jade Loville, Maryland‘s Angel Reese and Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist for the program, as well.

Outback has created one of the most interesting NIL deals to date. Next time you’re wondering what steak to order, see if Trevor Keels gets the sirloin, or the New York strip.

Dabo Swinney on NIL

Moreover, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has watched NIL become a huge factor in college football. While Swinney made it clear that he isn’t against NIL as a whole, he is against some of the things that have come with it. He’s still focused on getting players and student athletes to graduate, and believes that should be the top priority.

“I’m not against NIL at all,” Swinney said on The Players Club Podcast. “What I am against is anything that devalues education. That’s what I’m against. And I’m against the professionalization of college athletics. What does that mean? That means now we’re paying guys salaries, 18-year-olds have to pay taxes. I don’t think that’s good. I think we should keep the focus on graduation, incentivize graduation, and do everything we can to modernize and improv the scholarship in addition to these NIL opportunities.”

Dabo Swinney has some interesting thoughts on NIL, but maybe Outback can convince him there are more positives to the program than negatives.