Nike Signs Gamecocks Athletes to Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Roster as South Carolina Partnership Begins

Nike and the University of South Carolina are announcing the addition of five top Gamecocks athletes to Nike’s prestigious Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, ushering in a new era of athlete partnership in Columbia.

Blue Ribbon Elite, a first-of-its-kind initiative, represents a broad portfolio of athletes across disciplines, reimagining the NIL space by providing leading athletes and universities an unmatched level of collaboration that prioritizes the future of sport and athlete identity.

The announcement comes as a 10-year partnership takes effect between Nike, a brand born from college sport and built to empower the next generation, and South Carolina, a longtime athletic juggernaut among the leading programs in college sport. Unveiled last summer, the partnership makes Nike the official supplier of uniforms, footwear, apparel and equipment for all 21 Gamecocks athletic programs.

“The opportunity for our student-athletes to leverage Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite Program is an incredible benefit,” says Jeremiah Donati, Athletics Director, South Carolina. “NIL has created meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes to build and grow their personal brands, and we look forward to partnering with Nike to expand those opportunities and help position our student-athletes for success both during and beyond their time at South Carolina.”

Joining Nike’s growing roster of roughly 80 elite NIL athletes are:

• Joyce Edwards (basketball)
• Nyck Harbor (football)
• Chloe Kitts (basketball)
• LaNorris Sellers (football)
• Dylan Stewart (football)

What they’re saying:

• Joyce Edwards: “It is great being connected to a brand I feel aligns with who I am, and I align with who they are. Everyone knows Nike, and the mindset of ‘Just Do It’ really means something to me. It is the mindset you need to have, especially when you are competing at this level.”
• Nyck Harbor: “It means the world to me to be a Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athlete. This is something I have wanted ever since I was a little kid, when I was running track and playing football and I had the Vapors on and the Maxflys. I am honored and excited to represent this brand in the best possible way.”
• Chloe Kitts: “I’m excited to be one of South Carolina’s first Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athletes. Being part of Gamecock women’s basketball has given me a platform to create amazing partnerships, and this is another chance to partner with the best. Nike is an iconic brand that is globally known for making the best basketball footwear and apparel, and I can’t wait to get to see what we can do together.”
• LaNorris Sellers: “It feels great to be a Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athlete. Growing up and seeing the world’s best athletes in Nike, I wanted to be one of them, so this is a dream come true. It is a tremendous honor to represent Nike and South Carolina and be in this position.”
• Dylan Stewart: “I am honored to be a Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athlete. Being able to represent Nike and South Carolina and have this type of opportunity is a privilege.”
• Dawn Staley, Women's Basketball Coach: “Having been a Nike athlete most of my life, I’m well-versed in what partnership with them means to an organization and its athletes. I am excited that all of our teams at South Carolina will get to feel that too. For our women’s basketball team, only good things have happened when we’ve partnered with A’ja Wilson, so I look forward to what’s coming next in that legacy.”
• A'ja Wilson, All-Time Leading Scorer and 2017 National Champion: "South Carolina helped raise me. Nike and South Carolina linking up feels personal because both of these places taught me that when you show up as your full self, you can change what's possible for the next girl coming up behind you. So I'm proud, I'm grateful, and honestly, I'm excited for what these Gamecocks are about to do."
• Shane Beamer, Football Coach: “Our move to Nike has generated tremendous excitement throughout our program. Our student-athletes, coaches, recruits and fans are energized, and we’re proud to align with a brand that shares our commitment to excellence as we continue to move Gamecock Football forward.”
• Jeremiah Donati, Athletics Director: “Today is the official start of a new era for Gamecock Nation — one that is fueled by tradition, momentum and one of the most passionate fan bases in college sports. This partnership marks more than a change in apparel. It represents a shared vision for excellence, competition and the continued elevation of the South Carolina Athletics brand. We are proud to join the Nike family and look forward to providing our student-athletes, coaches and staff with the very best in athletic performance and brand representation.”

The Blue Ribbon Elite program, named after Nike’s humble beginnings, reflects the brand‘s long-held leading position in sport, college and NIL partnership, as well as an enduring commitment to making athletes better — from pioneering the first truly comprehensive “all-sports” partnership in the 1980s to today’s creative, career-building collaborations with top NIL athletes.

Nike’s partnership with each Blue Ribbon Elite athlete goes beyond brand representation, inspiring the student body and community to collaborate through brand campaigns, product innovation and creative direction.

In short: When programs and athletes sign with Nike, they don’t just rep the Swoosh — they help shape it.

Nike’s commitment to listening to the voices of its NIL athletes takes shape in individual, personalized support, both in their performance and training and in their most important moments away from the game. From product and styling to support with media and content, Nike leverages the full weight of the brand to provide a best-in-class partnership to athletes across its NIL roster — giving them tools for long-term success across sport, business and culture.

Nike’s NIL partnerships also extend to athlete-centered design and innovation, as well as support for athletes in their pursuit to stand for something bigger. This industry-leading approach reflects Nike’s five-decade history as the brand of athletes and underscores its continued commitment to inspiring and uplifting the next generation.

“South Carolina has built one of the most incredible athletic cultures in the country, and that kind of greatness deserves a partner that knows how to fuel it,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Global Sports Marketing. “From Dawn Staley’s program to every Gamecock competing for a title, we’re proud to put the Swoosh on their uniforms and welcome them as the newest member of our Nike Blue Ribbon Elite family.”