As Danny Stutsman begins his fourth year at Oklahoma, he’s not only recognized as one of the top linebackers in the country but also as a prominent figure off the field.
Now competing in the SEC, Stutsman has leveraged the opportunities offered by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals to enhance his own profile and ensure his teammates benefit as well.
LB Danny Stutsman Shares NIL Earnings With Oklahoma Walk-Ons
Stutsman stepped onto campus as a four-star prospect and instantly saw the field in 2021 — a path reserved for the highly recruited and highly talented. The same can’t be said for walk-ons, who fight tooth and nail for a spot on the roster with no guarantee of a scholarship.
Recognizing this disparity, Stutsman announced on Wednesday that he will donate a portion of his NIL earnings to support Oklahoma’s walk-ons.
These guys are the backbone of our program, extremely blessed to be able to give back to them!!💪🙏 https://t.co/dIO0jck4j3
— Danny Stutsman (@FbStutsman) August 29, 2024
“Obviously, there’s days where you feel like your hard work doesn’t get seen, doesn’t get noticed,” Stutsman said to the Sooners’ 18 walk-ons during a team meeting. “But it really does here at Oklahoma. Every single day, we appreciate you guys. This team would be nothing without you guys. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I truly do mean that.
“I feel like I have a really good connection with all of you guys. I just know how much you put into this program. … And sometimes you think it’s not seen, but it is. So with that being said, I want to donate some of my NIL earnings to you guys so you guys can have a little something else. After the meetings, this will be in your lockers.”
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Stutsman will give each walk-on $50,000 and a pair of JBL headphones, a nod to his recent deal with the company. With an NIL valuation of $305,000, Stutsman isn’t short on cash.
Earlier this week, Stutsman appeared in a commercial for Schwab Meat alongside Oklahoma State LB Nick Martin, and last October, he signed on with Snickers.
But perhaps Stutsman’s most lucrative deal came from a deal with the Opolis brand.
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As the Sooners geared up to face rival Texas last season, Stutsman declared to the team, “I’m certain about two things in life: one, that Oklahoma only fears God, and No. 2, that Texas fears Oklahoma.”
After Oklahoma’s win, Opolis quickly released thousands of shirts showcasing Stutsman with a cigar on the front and his iconic postgame speech on the back.
Stutsman’s impressive high-profile endorsements highlight not just his marketability but also his significant influence within the team.
Prior to the Alamo Bowl, head coach Brent Venables gushed over his 6’4″ and 241-pound LB.
“As good of a leader as we have on our team. As good of a leader as I’ve been around. His passion, his love, his respect that he has for his teammates and his teammates have for him … he’s represented everything that you would want for a leader.”
In July, Venables took Stutsman, QB Jackson Arnold, and DB Billy Bowman Jr. to Dallas for SEC Media Days, where Stutsman opened up about his offseason mindset.
“Every single day I wake up, there’s days when I don’t have the most energy myself but I know I have to be that vocal leader,” he said.
“I have to force myself to lead these other guys because the day I don’t show up is the day that we get worse. So I have to wake up with the same attitude, same confidence, and just be consistent every single day so that the teammates around me can feed off of that. I think Coach Venables does an amazing job of instilling that in me, and you see the same guy every single day.”
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Stutsman’s commitment to leadership is mirrored by his on-field performance, where his throwback run defending and blitzing set him apart. Over his two seasons as a starter, he has compiled 239 tackles, 26.5 TFLs, six sacks, three INTs, and eight PBUs, culminating in first-team All-Big 12 and third-team AP All-American recognition in 2023.
He was ranked No. 90 on College Football Network’s Top 100 returning players and made the preseason All-SEC First Team and All-American Second Team.
Don’t just take our word for it; Stutsman has also earned spots on several preseason watch lists, including the Butkus Award for the top linebacker and the Bednarik Award for the best overall defender.
While there may be more versatile or athletic linebackers in college football, Stutsman’s leadership and generosity have set a new standard nationwide.
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