'A new day and age': FAMU football players starting to cash in on NIL partnerships

Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat

Name, Image, and Likeness deals has transformed college sports.

Launched in 2021, NIL provides collegiate student-athletes an outlet to earn revenue by representing and being a business ambassador.

Florida A&M is becoming involved in that space.

For example, Rattlers’ football trio Kelvin Dean Jr. (running back), Jalen Goss (offensive lineman), and Kendall Bohler (cornerback) have all partnered with the Patrick Youth Development Foundation.

Overseen by FAMU graduate, military veteran, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s Beta Nu Chapter Eli Patrick, PYDF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made to mentor teenage males and young men. Patrick named the organization after his father, Dr. James H. Patrick, a successful coach, businessman, and educator based in Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama.

Eli Patrick said that the FAMU football players’ vision aligned with his, which is why he identified them to represent his organization.

“Just observing the program and talking with some other individuals around the program, I wanted to get someone that represented the same thing as my foundation ― leadership, high character, and being role models amongst their peers,” Eli Patrick told the Tallahassee Democrat.

“They represent themselves well, the football team, and FAMU well.”

The FAMU football program has always emphasized serving its community, such as when the team beautified the local Nims Middle School campus last August.

Giving back is what Goss, a graduate student, looks forward to the most in his and his teammates’ partnership with PYDF.

“Just for an alumni to want to partner with the team and be in the NIL space, partnering with Mr. Patrick was a good start for us,” Goss said. “It’s about more than just partnering with him. We have a lot of stuff in the works by doing things in the community and have his organization backing us.

“So far, it’s been pretty cool.”

FAMU affiliates taking preliminary steps to launch NIL collective for student-athletes

Dec. 16, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida A&M running back Kelvin Dean runs the ball during the Cricket Celebration Bowl game between Florida A&M University and Howard University at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FAMU defeated Howard 30-26. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network
Dec. 16, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida A&M running back Kelvin Dean runs the ball during the Cricket Celebration Bowl game between Florida A&M University and Howard University at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. FAMU defeated Howard 30-26. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Network

Athletic programs or universities cannot orchestrate NIL deals for their student-athletes.

Therefore, Rattler sports fans, led by two-time FAMU alumna Ashley Coleman, are making headway into launching a NIL organization, the ‘Fang Exchange.’

Patrick has been in talks with the ‘Fang Exchange,’ and his NIL partnership with Dean, Goss, and Bohler is one of the first dominoes to fall.

The Fang Exchange can assist with player retention as Florida State’s 'The Battle’s End’ has done. Rattlers football will be amidst a repeat run for the Black College National Championship in 2024.

“NIL for college athletes was a game-changer,” Patrick said. “For FAMU to be competitive in the future, we must get in that space and ensure our players can take advantage of NIL opportunities.

“Partnering with Ashley and the Fang Exchange, hopefully, we can get more donations and include all sports and genders at FAMU. It takes donations to give to more athletes and some of the smaller sports.”

Past FAMU players have outsourced for NIL deals, such as former Rattlers football star and current Indianapolis Colt Isaiah Land with Ready Life and Hungry Howie’s.

However, Goss, who transferred to FAMU from FSU in 2022, is proud that the Rattler community is assembling to assist student-athletes financially.

“It shows you that FAMU alumni are strong because they care about us enough to help us get some of these partnerships and compensation for what we do,” Goss.

“FAMU is trying to enter a new day and age by navigating through the NIL Space. I hope in the future, we continue to progress on how far we’ve come.”

Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule

Florida A&M offensive linemam Jalen Goss flatlines a Southern Jaguars defender in Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
Florida A&M offensive linemam Jalen Goss flatlines a Southern Jaguars defender in Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.

  • Aug. 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta*

  • Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State

  • Sept. 7 at Miami

  • Sept. 21 at Troy

  • Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M

  • Oct. 5 at Alabama State

  • Oct. 19 at Jackson State

  • Oct. 26 vs. Southern

  • Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING)

  • Nov. 9 at Prairie View A&M

  • Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State

  • Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman, Orlando*

BOLD = SWAC

* = Neutral Site

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers RB Dean, OL Goss, CB Bohler land NIL with alum

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