Before last season’s Orange Bowl, North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell made a stunning admission: He’s never eaten a steak.
Uiagalelei are the first college athletes to partner with Bojangles, which already works with several schools in the SEC and ACC.
When the new NIL rules opened the door to endorsements, Bojangles chief marketing officer Jackie Woodward said the company had a number of college athletes reach out directly via social media hoping to partner with the brand.
Other big-name deals include Boost Mobile, which is working with Fresno State basketball players Hanna and Haley Cavinder, and PetSmart, which partnered with Arkansas receiver Trey Knox.
Howell said he was initially reluctant to jump into the NIL market, wanting to prioritize opportunities that would give back to the community and also benefit his teammates.