Flying high on the wings of Name, Image, Likeness, Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart has made history this February. By becoming the first athlete to sign with a private jet company, Dart has taken the term ‘NIL Mega Deal’ to new heights, literally.
Jaxson Dart’s Fame Soars After Nicholas Air NIL Deal
Though naysayers are quick to point out the fact that college football is becoming more and more like a professional sport, it’s hard to deny the dynamic, positive impact the legislature of NIL has left on college athletics. NIL deals have helped athletes far and wide and continue to help elevate the level of compensation for athletes who have been undervalued for far too long.
By signing an NIL deal with a private jet company, however, Dart has literally and figuratively taken that Name, Image, Likeness benefits to new heights.
Dart became the first athlete to sign with a private jet company, and according to On3’s Pete Nakos, he can use ‘the company’s fleet of jets for travel, training, and philanthropy.’
The deal was facilitated by Everett Spots Marketing, according to Nakos, as the first partnership of the like. Ole Miss had previously participated in the Wheels Up program, made famous by ESPN’s College GameDay choice of airlines to fly in their guest pickers, but never has an athlete signed an exclusive private jet deal in the short lifespan of NIL.
Dart himself is a media sensation and mirrors his fame off the field with his talent on the field. A former USC transfer, Dart exploded onto the national stage in Lane Kiffin’s offense in 2023 and enters 2024 as a legitimate Heisman candidate.
He is also in the running to be one of the top-rated players in the release of EA Sports College Football 25 and partnered with EA Sports as part of their NIL collective agreement with several athletes nationwide.
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It’s a new era of college athletics, and Dart can now watch it unfold above the clouds.
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