The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff athletics department, PickinGreens Productions and the 1890 Agriculture and Student Athletes Project (1890 ASAP) have reached a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal totaling $80,000, UAPB announced Wednesday.
According to a release from the school, “The 1890 ASAP program is twofold: it aims to promote equity and sponsor opportunities for the 1890 student-athletes at UAPB, supporting them academically, athletically and professionally. Secondly, ASAP provides a platform to encourage these athletes to be ambassadors for agriculture.”
The program has signed NIL contracts with 28 student-athletes who will use their social media presence to “raise awareness about agriculture industries, agriculture careers and business opportunities among their peers and followers.”
The UAPB athletes currently signed with the program include: three each from football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball and men’s track; two each from baseball, soccer, volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country and women’s track; and one from golf.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
PickinGreens Productions president James Bunch, the primary sponsor of 1890 ASAP, is a former track and field star who was inducted into the UAPB Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
The partnership with UAPB is the first in an effort to reach all 1890 land grant institutions.