Michigan football’s NIL pursuits grew this week as Wolverine Boots, Valiant Brand and Champions Circle partnered to create a new footwear and apparel collection.The…
Michigan football’s NIL pursuits grew this week as Wolverine Boots, Valiant Brand and Champions Circle partnered to create a new footwear and apparel collection.
The collection, launched ahead of the U-M Spring Game on April 20, includes special-edition Michigan-branded work boots and three new styles of apparel. It follows a 2023 initiative that first saw the 140-year-old boot maker release footwear that support U-M athletes.
“Offering Michigan fans a special shopping experience on Wolverine.com is an exciting next step in Wolverine’s growing partnership with Valiant and University of Michigan student-athletes,” Wolverine Boots’ CMO, Scott Schoessel, said in a press release. “We’re proud to continue our support of the hardest working team in the country.”
A portion of revenue from each item benefits Champions Circle, a Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Collective that benefits Michigan athletes. Tight end Colston Loveland and running back Donovan Edwards are among the Michigan football players who are helping promote the new line of Wolverine Boots apparel.
Wolverine is a division of Wolverine World Wide, which was founded in 1883 and is headquartered in Rockford, Mich.
Champions Circle is one of a handful of collectives that was endorsed last year by U-M Athletic Director Warde Manuel.
“Updated guidance from the NCAA national office has expanded the scope of NIL offerings to entities known as collectives, which are third-party groups external to Michigan Athletics but who combine resources and expertise to provide NIL opportunities to our students,” Manuel wrote last month. “At this time, Michigan Athletics enjoys the support of four collectives, each notable in their own ways, that are actively working to provide our student-athletes with NIL opportunities.
“… We welcome your support of these four organizations and the continued financial support of our partners, fans and supporters in ensuring that Michigan student-athletes continue to be the Leaders and Best!”