ATHENS – A week into the name, image and likeness era, a Georgia player reportedly has landed one of the first big deals.
Georgia quarterback JT Daniels inked a deal with Everett Sports Marketing, company president Dan Everett confirmed Tuesday. The Greenville, S.C.-based firm also has made a pact with North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell. Both players are now featured on ESM’s website, which includes pro athletes such as Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, D’Andre Swift, Mac Jones and Jonathan Taylor.
Everett declined to discuss Daniels’ deal in detail Tuesday. But he has been quoted in other interviews saying he expects the earning potential of the top players in college football to range between $100,000 and seven figures.
So far, most of the deals unveiled by Georgia players have been comparatively modest. Offensive linemen Jamaree Salyer and Tate Ratledge and tight end Darnell Washington are among several UGA players seen on social media hawking Krystal’s new bacon cheeseburger. Outside linebacker Nolan Smith also announced this week a coming skills camp he is holding in Savannah. Several Bulldogs are marketing their own T-shirts and clothing lines, while many others are offering their services for appearances and various “cameos.”
But Daniels, who is set to start under center for the Bulldogs in the next season, is in position to earn big bucks. The fourth-year junior from Irvine, Calif., became QB1 for Georgia the last four games of last season, winning every game and completing 67% of his passes for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Barring injury, he will lead what’s expected to be a top-10 Bulldogs team into a season in which they are considered serious contenders to reach the College Football Playoff.
ESM has a long and productive history with UGA athletes. Going back to quarterback Aaron Murray, Everett’s group has often been the first to step in for the Bulldogs’ highest-profile players to broker money-making opportunities in the interim between them turning pro and signing their first employment contracts with NFL teams. Typically, they do that by organizing autograph signings, football camps and appearances.
