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Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes announced the inaugural "Team Mahomes" NIL class of Texas Tech athletes on Friday.
Mahomes, who played for the Red Raiders from 2014 through 2016, choose six athletes from different sports (via Front Office Sports). Members of the class will serve as ambassadors for Mahomes' signature Adidas brand.
Micah Hudson, NiJaree Canady, Jasmine Shavers, Matthew Comegys, Sam Courtwright and TJ Pompey represent the first group of the NIL class.
As part of the NIL agreement, the athletes will appear in upcoming Adidas campaigns tied to Mahomes' signature shoe and apparel line with the company.
The bond between the three-time Super Bowl champion and his alma mater has grown stronger during the offseason. On July 1, Texas tech announced a 10-year agreement with Adidas that resulted in the apparel brand becoming the footwear, uniform and accessory partner for the school.
As part of the partnership, Mahomes' signature logo was featured on co-branded apparel and marked the first time an Adidas athlete partner's logo was featured on official collegiate apparel.
On Thursday, Mahomes and his wife dedicated $5 million to help fund a $242 million renovation project for the south end zone of the Jones AT&T Stadium and the Dustin R. Womble Football Center.
In addition to the six athletes signed to the NIL class, all eligible student-athletes at Texas Tech are able to join the brand's NIL Ambassador Network. The network gives all student-athletes at Adidas-partnered Division I schools the chance to benefit from NIL, per the announcement.
"The energy around this partnership has been incredible, and this announcement shows just how important this is to me, Adidas and Texas Tech," Mahomes said as part of the announcement. "Adidas has been a collaborative partner from the start, and we worked together to select athletes who are among the best and embody the drive and dedication we're looking for in a Team Mahomes athlete."
As he prepares to help the Chiefs defend their championship in 2024, Mahomes is also taking time to support the athletes at Texas Tech.
