When Texas Longhorns five-star freshman quarterback Arch Manning first arrived with the team, his family made it clear that he would have to wait until he earned a starting quarterback job before they allowed him to capitalize on his name, image, and likeness – even though he’s already one of the most famous players in the nation. But it seems that isn’t actually going to be the case.
This week, it was announced that Arch Manning had signed the first endorsement deal of his young college football career, inking an exclusive partnership with trading card company Panini America, according to Tom VanHaaren of ESPN.
VanHaaren provided a few details about what the deal will include.
“This partnership is the quarterback’s first NIL agreement and is a multiyear deal that will see Panini create trading cards and will include exclusive autographs from Manning. The first release will be a one-of-one Prizm black autographed card that will be auctioned this week on Panini’s website,” VanHaaren wrote on ESPN.
Obviously, this goes against the Manning family’s claim that Arch Manning would not be permitted to have an NIL deal until he was a starter, and people were quick to call them out on the apparent lie on social media.
I thought he could sign a deal until he started 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
— boofszn (@boofszn9) July 25, 2023
Wait I thought his family said no nil deals
— Chris (@cfbtalk07) July 25, 2023
I thought the family said he had to earn a starting job before NIL…I mean good for him but any insight on the change in position? He'll rack up a nice pile of $$
— ABenjamin (@ndbass_2001) July 25, 2023
I thought the family said they were not doing any NIL deals until he was starting?
— Benny Armstrong (@barmstrong2185) July 25, 2023
Thought he wasn’t accepting anything until he became the starter 🤔 https://t.co/u4tk8hQ0ZX
— Michael Borkey (@MichaelBorkey) July 25, 2023
It looks like Arch Manning will be able to capitalize on the family name, after all.
[ESPN]
