UNC quarterback Sam Howell signs six-figure NIL deal

UNC quarterback Sam Howell has signed a six-figure NIL deal with Super Glow trading cards, via ESPN’s Dan Murphy. The name, image and likeness deal is a guaranteed six-figure deal, with the potential to reach over $1 million depending on sales numbers.

Sam Howell’s NIL deal as UNC quarterback

Howell partnered with Super Glow Trading Cards to create roughly two dozen different designs for cards with his name, image and likeness.

His deal will pay $100 for every card he signs as well as a 50% royalty fee for every card that is sold. The high percentage on his royalty fees is a rare, but not unprecedented, deal in the trading card industry according to Howell’s agent Dan Everett.

“Both guys have a significant six-figure guarantee,” said Everett. “If they’re playing well and their teams do well, this could turn into a seven-figure opportunity by the end of January.”

Super Glow plans to release a set of cards this October that will include 30 athletes, many of them college players. The company’s deal with Howell was arranged prior to the start of the season. The cards sold range in price from $15 to up to $1,000 for ones that include signatures and pieces of memorabilia.

“These cards will be among the first available memorabilia from current college athletes after the NCAA changed its rules this summer to allow players to profit from their names, images and likenesses while in school,” reported Murphy on the deal.

The news of Howell’s deal comes after a disappointing first week in the Tar Heels 2021 season. In their game against Virginia Tech, Howell threw for 208 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 17-10 loss.

NIL making waves

Ohio State freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers signed an NIL deal last week with autograph dealer GTSM, per The Action Network’s Daren Rovell. Ewers becomes the company’s first big NIL deal, reaching an agreement in excess of $1.4 million.

GTSM is one of the largest athlete autograph dealers in the United States and has partnered with a number of athletes across the country to offer unique deals to its customers.

While Daniels’ deal doesn’t come with the same dollar amount right now, the quarterback’s deal with Super Glow extends through the end of 2021 with the potential for more royalties.

Howell is joined by Georgia quarterback JT Daniels with Super Glow Trading Cards, as the Bulldogs quarterback shares the same agent. Both quarterbacks have the same deal with Super Glow, as detailed by On3’s Jonathan Wagner.

On3’s James Fletcher contributed to this article.