Nike is expanding its presence in football by signing 11 of the top high school prospects, along with several highly regarded college players.
The signings represent Nike’s ongoing dedication to developing the most youthful and dynamic football roster at the intersection of culture and sport, including high school athletes, college players, and elite professionals.
“Nike’s football roster has always been defined by the athletes who are shaping where the game goes next,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Global Sports Marketing. “These signings reflect our commitment to serving the best football talent at every level with the support, innovation and partnership they need to reach their full potential on the field and away from the game.”
The high school athletes, chosen from among the nation’s top prospects last month at The Opening showcase held at Nike’s Philip H. Knight Campus, exemplify the future of the sport—an elite group setting new standards for the classes of 2027 and 2028.
Meanwhile, college athletes have demonstrated their abilities on the most prominent stages in the sport, with their peak performances anticipated to come, supported by Nike’s leading NIL partnership.
Joining Nike’s growing roster of high school NIL athletes are:
- Jermaine Cobbins, cornerback, Springfield, Tenn., High School
- Madoxx Davis, wide receiver, Cartersville, Ga., High School
- Jaxon Dollar, tight end, Denver, N.C. (East Lincoln High School)
- Quentin Hale, wide receiver, Corona, Calif. (Centennial High School)
- Elijah Haven, quarterback, Baton Rouge, La. (The Dunham School)
- Peyton Houston, quarterback, Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
- Myson Johnson-Cook, running back, East St. Louis, Ill., High School
- Juju Johnson, cornerback, Long Beach, Calif. (Polytechnic High School)
- Neimann Lawrence, quarterback, Plantation/Miami, Fla. (American Heritage High School)
- Gabriel Osborne Jr., cornerback, Mustang, Okla., High School
- Jamarin Simmons, wide receiver, Tallahassee, Fla. (Amos P. Godby High School)
Elite college athletes who have joined Nike’s NIL roster include:
- Trinidad Chambliss, quarterback, Ole Miss
- Cam Coleman, wide receiver, Texas
- Jared Curtis, quarterback, Vanderbilt
- Trey’Dez Green, tight end, LSU
- Chris Henry Jr., wide receiver, Ohio State
- Kewan Lacy, running back, Ole Miss
- Dante Moore, quarterback, Oregon
- Colin Simmons, edge, Texas
As Nike NIL partners, high school and college signees will collaborate with the brand to shape the future of football and advance their careers.
Committed to actively listening to athletes’ voices, Nike offers its NIL and professional partners customized support in both performance and training, as well as guidance during key moments outside the field. From product and styling to media and content support, Nike leverages its extensive resources to deliver exceptional partnerships, equipping athletes with tools for long-term success across sports, business, and culture.
Nike’s NIL partnerships also emphasize athlete-centered design and innovation, along with support for athletes pursuing causes greater than themselves. This industry-leading approach reflects Nike’s five-decade legacy as the brand of athletes and demonstrates its ongoing dedication to inspiring and empowering the next generation.
Nike signed the high school athletes following their outstanding performances at The Opening Finals, the premier platform for top prep athletes to showcase their talents against the best competition nationwide. These athletes join an distinguished lineage of past participants who have gone on to sign Nike partnerships, including notable figures such as Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Kyler Murray, and Ja’Marr Chase, who are all members of The Opening Hall of Fame Class of 2027.
By partnering with Nike, the incoming NIL athletes became part of one of the most impressive football rosters in the sport, featuring six active Super Bowl champions, 19 All-Pros, and 28 Pro Bowl players, alongside legendary figures such as Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders, who attended The Opening to offer guidance from their Hall of Fame careers.
Nike football athletes—including Ja’Marr Chase, Kyler Murray, Kewan Lacy, Bryce Young, Saquon Barkley, Malik Nabers, Trent McDuffie, Shedeur Sanders, Najee Harris, Jayden Daniels, Jerry Jeudy, Kendrick Bourne, Jett Washington, Derrick Henry, Keelon Russell, Jameson Williams, and Tetairoa McMillan—joined the new NIL signees on stage at Nike’s Stanford Theatre to celebrate this significant milestone.
Photos/NikeNewsroom
Nike Newsroom contributed to this column