The NCAA allowed its student-athletes to profit from their likeness in July, and one of the athletes to benefit the most from the new rules is star Oregon defensive end, Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux announced a marketing deal with United Airlines, which will provide direct flights for select away games in the upcoming season.
The Deals
“Partnering with United Airlines was a no-brainer for me, as they are a premium brand with the same core values as I have,” said Thibodeaux in a statement to ESPN. “I look forward to a long-standing relationship with United.”
The deal will start on September 9th. United will give flights to Ohio for Oregon’s game against Ohio State on September 11.
According to ESPN, Thibodeaux has signed about $400,000 in deals so far. The most notable deal being an NFT artwork deal with Nike founder Phil Knight and designer Tinker Hatfield. He’s also signed a private memorabilia deal for an unknown amount. ESPN reported it to be a “six-figure deal.” In addition, he inked deals with both PlantFuel and Starface. Both companies are plant-based organizations. Plantfuel is a protein company. Starface is a plant-based skincare company.
Kayvon Thibodeaux On the Field
Thibodeaux was a highly sought-after prospect. In fact, he ranked as the number one recruit in the country by ESPN, with 247Sports ranking him second. He was awarded Freshman Defensive Player of the Year after having a nine-sack campaign. He then followed up with a Third Team All-American selection in 2020. As a result, the defensive end looks to be a top prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. ESPN Draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper consider him the number one overall prospect in the upcoming class if he decides to declare.
Kayvon Thibodeaux and the Ducks, ranked 11th in the nation, open the season on September 4 as they host Fresno State.
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