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Maryland QB Malik Washington inks NIL deal with Pepsi, Ledo Pizza

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz12 hours agoNickSchultz_7
Maryland QB Malik Washington
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Maryland quarterback Malik Washington has signed an NIL deal with Pepsi and Ledo Pizza, he and the school announced. It marks the first season-long NIL deal with an individual athlete for the soft drink company, facilitated by UMD’s in-house agency, One Maryland NIL.

Through the partnership, Washington will participate in a marketing campaign through social media and in-stadium branding in his full Maryland uniform. Ledo Pizza locations and SECU Stadium will also offer a pizza made “Malik’s Way,” which is a classic pizza smothered in hot honey. UMD is exclusively a Pepsi campus.

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“I’m super excited to have Pepsi and Ledo Pizza in my corner this season,” Washington said in a statement. “Both are longtime partners of the University of Maryland, and, to me, they’re the perfect pairing for football season. Nothing goes better with game day than an ice-cold Pepsi and a slice of Ledo Pizza. I’m proud to represent brands that mean so much to our fans and the Maryland football community.”

The deal comes amid a strong start to Washington’s career with the Terrapins. The true freshman quarterback has thrown for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns to one interception through his first four games. He was also Charles Power’s Week 4 True Freshman of the Week following a standout performance against Wisconsin with 265 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with a rushing score.

A Baltimore native and product of Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding, Malik Washington arrived in College Park this year as a four-star prospect. He was the No. 105 overall player and No. 11-ranked quarterback from the 2025 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.

“This partnership showcases the power of alignment between Athletics, our NIL program, and our corporate partners,” said Mandy Allendorfer, executive director of One Maryland NIL, in a statement. “We’re proud to help maximize these opportunities for Malik while strengthening the relationships that mean so much to our fans, and building a blueprint for future NIL deals and activations.”

One Maryland NIL became UMD’s official NIL collective in 2023, but the school brought in in-house following approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. Powered by Blueprint Sports, the organization is helping facilitate deals for Terrapins athletes.