Wolfpack Outfitters has recently launched a new collection of NC State gear bearing the names and numbers of student-athletes, thanks to the new laws governing name, image, and likeness (NIL) usage of collegiate players. Fans can now select the name and number of their favorite football, volleyball, basketball and soccer players when purchasing Wolfpack gear, then wear it to show their support.
A new line of t-shirts and jerseys from Wolfpack Outfitters marks one of the very first opportunities for Wolfpack fans to directly support their favorite players: both in bearing their names and also through the financial compensation that they receive for participating in NC State’s NIL programs. Athletes who opt-in to the group licensing agreement with The BrandR Group receive compensation for each product bearing their name, image or likeness in accordance with guidelines laid out by the NCAA, the state of North Carolina, and NC State University.
of his favorite player, Christopher Dunn
NC State Sophomore Reed Taws was excited to sport his new Christopher Dunn jersey at NC State football games.
“I’ve been cheering for Dunn since I started at NC State, and he’s never let us down,” Taws said. “As soon as jerseys for individual players went up, I knew I was going to be wearing number 32 at games from that point forward.”
Fans are excited, also, at the prospect of compensating their favorite players for the pride and excitement that they bring to university sports. “I’m glad that they’re being compensated for the jerseys and their effort out on the field,” said NC State Junior Magali Turne. “Sports bring us together, and athletes deserve to be rewarded for the work that they do in making school spirit that much more alive.”
Wolfpack fans can purchase player specific jerseys and other gear from Wolfpack Outfitters at https://shop.ncsu.edu/collections/student-athlete-nil.
In June 2021, the Supreme Court made the groundbreaking ruling that student-athletes should be allowed to be compensated for their popularity and that schools were legally not allowed to limit payments related to education. Until this point, all college athletes were considered to be amateurs and, according to the guidelines of the NCAA, could not profit from their athletic careers. Since the ruling, college athletes everywhere have begun signing brand deals and profiting off their highly coveted names and images. Learn more about this decision >>