Gordon McKernan uses NIL deals with Louisiana stars to support cancer organizations
Gordon McKernan has impacted NIL with his deals with megastars like No. 1 women’s basketball recruit Mikaylah Williams, LSU star receiver Kayshon Boutte and five-star linebacker Harold Perkins. Now McKernan and his law firm, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, are using NIL deals to support cancer organizations throughout Louisiana.
On Monday, McKernan announced the “Playing for Pink” campaign involving LSU Tigers, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech Bulldog student-athletes that have agreed to deals with his firm.
The funds earned by McKernan’s student-athlete partners during the campaign will go toward supporting three local cancer organizations in the state in the fight against breast cancer.
McKernan’s firm will donate $100 for every major stat, including receptions, tackles, sacks and every 10 yards of offense, achieved by the players during their respective games on Saturday. For every big play, including touchdowns, turnovers forced, safeties, big returns, clutch receptions, big blocks and other game-changing plays, McKernan’s firm will donate another $250.
LSU student-athletes – including Boutte, Perkins, Emery Jones, Jaquelin Roy, Malik Nabers, Maason Smith, John Emery Jr. and others – will be supporting Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s Geaux Pink Initiative. McKernan will make a minimum commitment of $5,000. But that number could grow if the Tigers’ have success Saturday against Ole Miss.
Dontae Fleming and Andre Jones, McKernan’s Ragin Cajun student-athletes, will play to support Miles Perret Cancer Services’ Breast Cancer Support Group during their game against Arkansas State. At least $2,500 will be donated. Davon Harris of La Tech will play against Rice to raise funds for the Louisiana Cancer Foundation for Research and Education, for a minimum total commitment of $1,000.
Gordon McKernan a major NIL force
Gordon McKernan has been one of the most active figures in NIL. He hasn’t generated as much national attention as Miami mega-booster John Ruiz and LifeWallet. But McKernan and his firm have struck significant NIL deals with top student-athletes at all of the top college programs in Louisiana. He is also a supporter of LSU, and many NIL insiders believe he’s helped the Tigers massively support roster maintenance in Baton Rouge.
When asked about his plans for further potential sponsorships, McKernan was clear: “I think there’s a lot of value for helping a student-athlete and at the same time helping our company, so we’re going to … do it across multiple sports,” he told WBRZ.
“We look forward to helping the LSU community in the long-term, generating goodwill both for these athletes and for the Gordon McKernan firm.”
McKernan also told Sports Illustrated the price tag for elite players is often at least $100,000 in NIL salary. He said he will pay $500,000 in NIL deals this year.
McKernan also generated national headlines earlier this month when he agreed to a deal with Williams, the top-ranked women’s basketball recruit in the country and an LSU commitment.
Williams, ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz and other scouting services, can sign a NIL deal because she is from Bossier City, Louisiana. After a rule change in April, NIL is allowed in Louisiana for high school student-athletes. The terms of the NIL deal were not made public. Williams plays at Parkway High School, and she picked LSU over Ole Miss, Baylor, Duke and Texas A&M in April.