UM quarterback D’Eriq King made history just after midnight on Wednesday night, becoming the first Hurricanes athlete to agree to a sponsorship deal under new NCAA legislation that permits players to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness.
King agreed to a deal to promote two Tampa-based companies: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving and Murphy Auto Group.
King received a combined $10,000 signing bonus from the two companies and will receive monthly compensation as well. The value of the deal tops $20,000, according to Omar Soliman, the co-founder of College Hunks.
Former UM receiver Ahmmon Richards has a relationship with Murphy Auto Group and informed King of the opportunity.
“I did research into [the companies’] core values,” King said by phone late Wednesday night. “It was a perfect fit.”
Soliman said King was appealing because “he embodies the core values of our company. The work he has done advocating for student athletes [is impressive]. Everyone has the right to be an entrepreneur. This will usher in a new wave of entrepreneurship.”
Soliman said King’s initial responsibilities will primarily involve social media.
“He will drive computer awareness and ongoing social media posts promoting the brand,” Soliman said. “One of our challenges is recruiting employees. He’s a student athlete brand ambassador.”
Also Soliman said, “we’ve talked about doing a TV commercial with his offensive line. We’re looking to sponsor more student athletes, male and female. It’s cool to make history.”
And this won’t be the only way that King is capitalizing on the new NCAA policy.
King confirmed that he and FSU quarterback McKenzie Milton are co-founders of Dreamfield, while will schedule bookings of live events for college athletes, including speaking appearances and autograph signings. King and Milton will be the faces of the new venture but will recruit other student-athletes to participate.
As part of the deal, King and Milton will have digital sports trading cards, a business that Dreamfield also will pursue with college athletes.
What’s more, King created his web site -
deriqkingshop.com - where he will sell apparel and signed memorabilia.
The NCAA approved a name, image and likeness policy on Wednesday in the wake of nearly a dozen states - including Florida - passing their own such legislation.
Coach Manny Diaz said the new policy will benefit UM.
“Like we told our guys, they don’t put professional franchises in small towns,” Diaz said. “If you want to maximize your brand, you generally want to go where the people are. That can be a great advantage for our guys. I’m excited for our guys. This is one of the great advantages we can use with our community, our city.
Read more here:
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/...y-jackson/article252402548.html#storylink=cpy
deriqking.shop
