Bennett, Bowers, Ringo busy with NIL deals

NIL deals are starting to roll in for Georgia football players.

As most might suspect, quarterback Stetson Bennett is best positioned to take advantage of the NCAA’S new name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation, with his Hollywood-like story that culminated in the Bulldogs’ national championship win over Alabama on Monday night. And that started Thursday at a Raising Cane’s fastfood franchise in Athens.

Meanwhile, several of Bennett’s teammates are getting busy with business as well. That included Bennett’s favorite target, Brock Bowers.

A freshman who set records for receptions, yards and touchdowns for a tight end this season, Bowers signed with Everett Sports Marketing out of Greenville, S.C. ESM, as the firm prefers

to be called, has several other current and former Bulldogs among its clientele, including Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and JT Daniels.

ESM signed Daniels to a deal this past summer that could have netted the junior quarterback several hundred thousand dollars this year. However, Daniels ended up injured and eventually lost his starting position to Bennett. Details of Bowers’ deal with ESM were not released as of Thursday.

“The Mailman,” as Bennett was nicknamed well before helping deliver Georgia its first national football crown in 41 years, surprised guests of the Raising Cane’s chicken-finger restaurant on Baxter Street when he delivered their meals in the drive-thru window Thursday afternoon. There were also social media pictures of Bennett signing hats and shoes from a booth inside the restaurant.

Another star from Monday night’s 33-18 victory is cornerback Kelee Ringo, who also stuck his toes into the self-promotion waters provided by NIL. Ringo was marketing a line of shirts made in the wake of the game’s most iconic play — with his 79-yard interception return for a touchdown with 54 seconds remaining that “sealed the deal.” Ringo is selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies with the phrase “Sealed the Deal” and his likeness making the pick on the front. They can be purchased for $29.99 to $49.99 at the website theplayerstrunk.com.

Several other players are expected to launch products and announce promotional deals in the coming weeks and months. Most of them are underclassmen who plan on returning next season. Surely, freshman A.D. Mitchell — whose first name is Adonai — is working on something after catching the go-ahead TD pass.

Bennett could return to play for the Bulldogs again next season via the NCAA’S COVID-19 exception, but he has remained noncommittal so far.

ESM Everett Sports Marketing provided this photo of Georgia freshman tight end Brock Bowers signing a marketing deal with the Greenville, S.C., firm. Details of the deal were not released.