UK football players enter name, image, likeness deal with Central Ky. school district

Two University of Kentucky football players inked a deal with the Paris City Schools district in what the superintendent says is the first deal of its kind.

Players John Young and Octavious Oxendine will serve as ambassadors for the district and make appearances throughout the school year to interact with students and community members, Paris City Schools Superintendent Stephen McCauley said in a news release.

“We are excited to announce the first partnership between a Kentucky school district and collegiate student athletes,” McCauley said.

In the Paris City Schools partnership, McCauley said an anonymous donor is providing the funds. There are no taxpayer dollars or school funds involved, he said in an interview with the Herald-Leader on Tuesday.

McCauley did not immediately provide the amount of money involved in the deal.

He said he knew of no other public school district in Kentucky that had launched a similar arrangement.

In 2021, the NCAA allowed college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness while still retaining their amateur playing ability.

Gov. Andy Beshear earlier this year signed the state’s NIL bill into law, setting up a statewide framework that allows for the commonwealth’s student-athletes to profit off of NIL deals.

Young, of Louisville, and Oxendine, of Radcliff, were born and raised in Kentucky and are eager to partner with the district to serve as role models for students and to “share how Paris Schools is making an impact in the community and beyond,” McCauley said.

“John and Octavious are not only two standout athletes but they are also tremendous young men who are great examples for all of our students to show how far hard work and determination can take you,” McCauley said. “I cannot wait for our students to get to know them and to learn from their experiences. We are grateful for the anonymous donor who made this happen.”

Young said he can’t wait to interact with the students and community members in Paris.

“I look forward to meeting as many new people as possible as we go forward with this relationship,” he said in a district news release.

“Being able to be a part of something like this is an honor and I can’t wait to meet the Paris City students as well as the surrounding community,” Oxendine said.

The UK players will be at the school district’s summer block party from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at Paris Elementary School.