Wisconsin Star Lineman Renews Car Dealership NIL Deal
Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Jack Nelson is a good example of how Name, Image and Likeness deals are helping to keep student-athletes in the college game longer.
Nelson, who has played four years at Wisconsin - after a redshirt season in 2020 - announced last month that he would return for one more season with the Badgers. After another steady season in 2023, there were questions about whether he might test the NFL waters.
He told reporters that he believed in what coach Luke Fickell was building with the Badgers after the coach’s initial season. But NIL is helping to soften the blow of not going to the NFL this season.
In what amounts to a renewal of an NIL deal that Nelson struck last year, the Fillback Family of Dealerships announced on Instagram that Nelson would be driving one of their trucks for a second straight year.
“New Year, New Ram Truck for #79 Badger, Jack Nelson! Check out his new Blacked out Ram truck! He loves it! We are happy to have you in our Fillback Family! @jack.nelson79 #fillbackfamilyofdealerships #wisconsinbadgersfootball #ramtrucks”
Along with Fillback, Nelson inked a deal with Sprecher Craft Brewery in 2022, along with a host of other Badgers, to be ambassadors for the Brewery’s root beer and craft soda products.
Nelson will play a second season under Fickell, but the Badgers will have a new offensive line coach after luring Vanderbilt OL coach AJ Blazek to replace the reassigned Jack Bicknell Jr.
