Wisconsin Badgers offensive line sign NIL deal with Sprecher Brewery
The Wisconsin Badgers are known for their great offensive linemen. Wisconsin is also known for Sprecher Craft Soda, a local soft drink tradition. So, it only makes sense for the Badgers’ offensive line to pair up with Sprecher Craft Brewery in a NIL deal.
Sprecher Craft Brewery announced Thursday it signed 10 Wisconsin offensive linemen to NIL deals. Dylan Barrett, Tyler Beach, Logan Brown, Tanor Bortolini, Michael Furtney, Riley Mahlman, Jack Nelson, Nolan Rucci, Joe Tippmann and Trey Wedig will serve as brand ambassadors Sprecher Root Beer and Sprecher craft sodas.
The group, according to a news release, will promote their favorite Sprecher craft sodas on their social media accounts as part of the ambassador role.
“It’s awesome that we’re getting attention as offensive linemen,” Tippman told NBC 15 in Madison. “We’re doing this as a group – so it’s not just a one-guy thing. It’s awesome that we found somebody that was willing to sponsor the whole offensive line.
“And, hey, we get free soda out of it.”
Mahlman said it was Tippman that made the initial inquiry to Sprecher and got the NIL ball rolling.
“Offensive linemen don’t always get all the glory,” Mahlman told NBC 15. “We brought it together as a whole line unit. Joe was like, ‘Yo, we’ve got a deal. Do you guys want to take it?’ We just started talking more and more about it. I think it fits the O-line perfectly. We jumped on it.”
According to The Journal Times, a Wisconsin spokesperson said the deal is permissible under the school’s NIL policy. Athletes can submit sponsorship deals with alcohol companies for review. But so far none have come to fruition, The Journal Times reported.
Other Wisconsin NIL deals
Members of UW’s offensive line also have secured NIL deals with the Portillo’s restaurant chain, and Nelson received a truck as part of an agreement with a car dealership. On Thursday, quarterback Graham Mertz and running back Braelon Allen announced that each signed a NIL deal with Pepsi in the latest example of a national brand reaching an agreement with college athletes.