College Football’s era of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) has spurned many great ideas, some terrific collaborations, and meaningful change across the landscape. Companies far and wide have expressed their interest in cashing in on the celebrity status of college football student-athletes in the form of national commercials all the way to social media posts, and everything in between.
On Thursday, Joe Milton joined an exclusive club and received his very own trading card, thanks to Panini America.
Joe Milton Joins Panini Roster With Exclusive Agreement
The MVP of the 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl, Tennessee QB Joe Milton and Panini America, the world’s largest sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced their exclusive and multi-year partnership on Thursday.
Milton joins an exclusive group that includes Texas QBs Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, as well as Washington Huskies QB-WR duo Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze and USC WR Zachariah Branch.
“Joe is a great player and an outstanding addition to our talented athlete roster,” Panini Senior Vice President of Marketing and Athlete Relations Jason Howarth said in a release. “We are excited to be working with him and offering his autograph trading cards and memorabilia to fans.”
Joe Milton Receives Instant Card Following South Carolina Performance
The partnership with Panini includes autograph and Milton’s inclusion inside Panini’s offerings this fall. Milton will be featured inside Panini Collegiate’s offerings as well as their NIL products in the fall of 2023.
MORE: What is NIL?
It also included an in-the-moment celebratory card surrounding Milton’s performance against South Carolina in Week 5.
Milton’s Instant Card is available for purchase through the Panini website and highlights his 239-yard performance against the Gamecocks.
This season, Milton has thrown for 1,164 yards and nine touchdowns, leading Tennessee to a 4-1 record so far. He’s rushed for four more touchdowns and another 139 yards, eclipsing his career rushing yards over 500.
Milton, who transferred to Tennessee following the 2020 season, has been with the program for three seasons and earned multiple starts in place of injured Hendon Hooker in 2022. Entering the 2023 season as the unquestioned starter, Milton has improved his career passing yards to 3,704 and 26 career touchdowns.
He’s considered a top quarterback prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft and has arguably the most powerful arm in the entire class.
Panini’s exclusive agreement with Milton also adds the Tennessee QB to their marketing activations, as fans will likely be able to get up close and personal with him in the lead-up to April’s Draft and thereafter.
College football stars aren’t the only players who have landed with Panini, as they’ve also announced exclusive agreements with top MLB prospects Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes from LSU and potential NBA prospects Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Matas Buzelis, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Tre Johnson.
For more on Panini and how to find these select cards, visit them today.