Drew Brees helps surprise Purdue walk-on athlete with NIL deal

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was able to make a walk-on athlete’s day on a video call where she was named a recipient of an NIL deal. Emilee Cox is a walk-on softball player at Brees’ alma mater, Purdue.

Drew Brees meets walk-on NIL winner

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is a national franchise restaurant with over 50 locations across the United States. As part of the new name, image and likeness rules for college athletes, they recently announced a new program called “Walk-On of the Week” that will award NIL deals to walk-on student athletes.

Their first recipient of the award is Emilee Cox from Purdue. In a video call with CEO of Walk-On’s Brandon Landry, the CEO asked her about how she came to Purdue. Landry took the opportunity to ask if she knew his business partner, co-owner Drew Brees, who played football at Purdue.

“I’ve heard of him,” Cox joked. “I’m sitting in his Drew Brees Center right now on campus.”

As she mentioned that she was currently in a building named after the NFL legend, Brees joined the video call to congratulate her on her award. Cox was overcome with emotion, as Brees praised her for being one of the Boilermakers.

“You could not have picked a better person,” Brees said. “Great work Emilee, so happy. And keep representing everything that’s great about Purdue.”

Emilee finished the call by thanking Brees again, “I did not expect this tonight!”

Walk-On’s, Drew Brees and Dak Prescott

The Walk-On’s franchise hopes to expand their family of athletes with their new NIL program. Recipients will join the growing team of athletes alongside brand co-owner Drew Brees and franchisee Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys.

The program is intended to “highlight the real magic of sports – the underdog,” said founder Brandon Landry, via Business of College Sports. “Walk-On athletes endure the same grueling workouts as the scholarship players and in many cases, work jobs to help pay for school. With NIL changing the landscape of collegiate athletics, we want to make sure that walk-ons aren’t left out and receive the recognition and support they deserve. We’re grateful to tell their stories and welcome them to our family of athletes.”

Walk-On’s opened their first location in Louisiana in 2003, just nearby LSU’s Tiger Stadium. The franchise is named after the playing careers of its founders, Brandon Landry and Jack Warner. Landry and Warner were walk-on athletes for the LSU basketball team, and wanted their restaurant to celebrate underdog athletes.

In 2015, NFL legend Drew Brees joined their company as a co-owner as the franchise expanded throughout the country. Earlier this year, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became a key investor in the company after acquiring a 20 percent share.

“I grew up going to some Walk-On’s,” Prescott said of his deal. “We had a Walk-On right there in Bossier City. On the bathroom, when you walk in, my high school picture is probably still there.”