Nike Signs 18 Alabama Athletes to Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Deals

Nike and the University of Alabama are expanding their long-running partnership, with 18 Crimson Tide athletes joining Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program across football, basketball, softball, soccer, gymnastics, volleyball, swimming and baseball.

The additions come as Nike and Alabama continue a relationship that now spans roughly three decades. Blue Ribbon Elite is Nike’s NIL initiative built around individual athlete support, including performance, training, product, styling, media and content opportunities.

The new Alabama class includes Amari Allen, Ace Austin, Jocelyn Briski, Zabien Brown, Ryan Coleman-Williams, EJ Crowell, Tommy Hagar, Bray Hubbard, Dijon Lee Jr., Cederian Morgan, Vic Moten, Hannah Parant, Yhonzae Pierre, Azaraya Ra-Akbar, Melina Rebimbas, Keelon Russell, Myles Upchurch and Audrey Vandagriff.

Football accounts for the largest share of the group, with Brown, Coleman-Williams, Crowell, Hubbard, Lee Jr., Morgan, Pierre and Russell all joining the program. The roster also includes athletes from Alabama basketball, softball, swimming, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer and baseball.

Nike says its Blue Ribbon Elite roster now includes roughly 95 NIL athletes, with the program designed to give athletes support beyond simply wearing the brand in competition. That can include brand campaigns, product innovation, creative direction and broader career-building opportunities.

The announcement marks another step in Nike and Alabama’s all-sports partnership while giving a new group of Crimson Tide athletes individual deals under the Swoosh.

For more on the Swoosh, Florida State University recently unveiled their Nike Vaporposite Pro PE cleats.