Two Alabama track and field athletes were among 15 total collegiate athletes from across the country to sign onto WWE’s ‘Next In Line’ program, which is a name, image and likeness (NIL) program put on by the entertainment giant known internationally.
The two athletes are seniors Isaac Odugbesan, a thrower from Nigeria for the Crimson Tide, and Riley White, an Alabama-native Pole Vaulter from Hoover.
According to the WWE website, the program is essentially a way for college athletes to potentially enter the entertainment wrestling realm after their collegiate careers end.
“The WWE NIL program has the potential to be transformational to our business,” said Paul Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Global Talent Strategy and Development. “By creating partnerships with elite athletes at all levels across a wide variety of college sports, we will dramatically expand our pool of talent and create a system that readies NCAA competitors for WWE once their collegiate careers come to a close.”
The announcement was made on Twitter, as all 15 athletes had their pictures, respective schools and sports listed with them.
WWE announces its first NIL class of signeeshttps://t.co/KiaE823Xsg pic.twitter.com/QWbYs8ryvc
— Wrestlenomics (@wrestlenomics) December 8, 2021
White took to Twitter to share her excitement in working with the program.
I’m #NextInLine. Excited to join @wwe as part of the #WWENIL program! @WWE @WWERecruit pic.twitter.com/SGvPq3anoC
— Riley White (@white_riley) December 8, 2021
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Odugbesan, White and other Crimson Tide athletes as they continue traversing through the new world of NIL in the NCAA.
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