In July, the NCAA changed college athletics rules by enabling student-athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) for the first time.
Since then, hundreds of college athletes across the country have already taken advantage and started profiting, including Texas Longhorns football players Bijan Robinson and DeMarvion Overshown. Robinson signed a deal with Raising Cane’s, and Overshown signed an agreement with the Covert Hutto Ford Chevrolet dealership that enabled him to purchase a vehicle for his mom.
Now, Texas Longhorn athletes, specifically football offensive linemen, have even more reasons to celebrate the NCAA rule change.
On Monday, a new nonprofit, Horns with Heart, was introduced. Horns with Heart’s website says it was founded by six Texas alumni and supporters” with experience across multiple industries and disciplines to make a positive impact on local communities,” but did not identify the founders.
The nonprofit announced its first initiative will be called “The Pancake Factory” and will give $50,000 annually to Longhorns offensive linemen on scholarships, starting in August 2022. The nonprofit will use the player’s name, image, and likeness to “help promote worthy charitable causes and make positive contributions” to local communities in exchange for the payment.
The program will be capped at $800,000 annually, meaning 16 offensive linemen could get the $50,000.
The Pancake Factory was named after the “pancake block,” a block by an offensive lineman that leaves the opposing player flat on his back. The nonprofit stated they plan to expand the program to other football position groups and athletes in other varsity sports. The website says a goal is “to make these programs sustainably funded on a yearly basis.”
In addition to Horns with Hearts, Longhorn athletes have already cashed in through another initiative named the Clark Field Collective, as announced last week.
The Clark Field Collective will be a $10 million fund to facilitate and create NIL deals for Texas athletes across 17 varsity sports. Former Longhorn basketball player TJ Ford is among the Clark Field Collective board members.
“The best University in the country deserves an NIL program to match,” Ford said on the Collective’s website, “with Austin now home to some of the biggest businesses in the world, we knew there was an easy way to connect the business community to athletes while creating something that not only facilitates opportunity but also educates and helps prepare them for life after sports.”