The college football world was buzzing on Monday morning. A pair of Southern Cal football stars made headlines with a major announcement regarding NIL. USC stars Zachariah and Zion Branch will join up with Jordan Brand as the shoe brand’s first NIL endorsees.
ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported the news on the huge announcement out of Los Angeles.
“USC football players Zachariah and Zion Branch will become Jordan Brand’s first NIL football endorsees,” Thamel wrote.
Thamel broke the news of the landmark deal on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
USC football players Zachariah and Zion Branch will become Jordan Brand’s first NIL football endorsees. The brothers join a roster that includes Dak Prescott, Deebo Samuel, and Jalen Hurts. pic.twitter.com/P7m6pdwwg3
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 26, 2024
With NIL sweeping through college sports, it was probably expected that eventually, shoe brands would get in on all of it. So the announcement out of USC on Monday isn’t surprising.
Zachariah Branch is one of the best underclassmen in college football. Branch will likely turn some heads in the Big Ten this year, as USC begins a new expedition out there after the Pac-12’s dissolvement. Zion, meanwhile is a budding and talented safety.
The college football world had much to say over the major announcement from USC.
Big news for former @BishopGormanFB star @zachariahb03 https://t.co/P2pg0HOYdG
— Tony Cordasco (@TonyDasco) August 26, 2024
Where else but USC ✌️✌️ https://t.co/fNwsCYL9s2
— Sidelines – USC 🏴☠️ (@SSN_USC) August 26, 2024
This is how NIL is supposed to work. Never supposed to be about a bunch of hillbilly keyboard warriors taking out a second on the double wide to buy players. https://t.co/DpQTNdNIkO
— Ralph Moran (@RalphJMoran) August 26, 2024
Massive shame that the first football NIL deal wasn’t with a UNC player https://t.co/NNTDfrNYvc
— Katie Pondiscio (@kpondiscio) August 26, 2024
The Trojans will begin the 2024 college football season this Sunday against the LSU Tigers in Las Vegas.
