'All-SAXX Conference' introduced through NIL deal with college football's top pass rushers

SAXX Underwear returned to the NIL space Wednesday with the announcement of a new campaign that focuses on “realignment.”

The NIL partnership includes Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor, UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu, USC linebacker Shane Lee, TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge, Miami defensive end Jahfari Harvey and Colorado linebacker Jordan Domineck.

The six players make up what the company is calling the “All-SAXX Conference,” since the players are all too familiar with “realignment.”

SAXX pledged to donate $1,000 to the Testicular Cancer Foundation for every quarterback sack made by the All-SAXX Conference, while the players will help raise awareness for testicular cancer via social media content and media appearances.

“We obviously had some fun with the creative for this program, but it was important to us that there was a meaningful philanthropic angle to the final product,” SAXX chief executive officer Wendy Bennison said in a news release.

“We’ve long supported the Testicular Cancer Foundation, so we couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with some of the most prolific sackers in college football on this worthy initiative.”

SAXX has long supported NIL for good cause

SAXX had a similar NIL campaign in 2022 with the South Carolina football team that supported cancer research.

According to the release, the All-SAXX Conference will be helmed by former NFL star Jevon Kearse, who’s an accomplished sacker in his own right. Kearse will crown the top sacker from the group by endowing them with the “Balls Not Stuck to Thighsman Trophy.”

The NIL partnership features some of the top defensive linemen in the country, including Latu.

The UCLA EDGE rusher is currently on pace to be a top 25 NFL draft pick, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper. He had four sacks in the first three games of the season and shot to the top of most EDGE draft boards.

“It’s cool to be recognized by SAXX as one of the top defensive leaders in college football,” said Latu. “But I was drawn to this partnership because of the charitable aspect. Even though we don’t wear the same school colors as each other, the All-SAXX Conference pledge is something we can all get behind.”

McGregor had a career-high five tackles earlier this season against UNLV. After starting his career at Alabama, Lee has recorded 10 tackles and one sack so far this season. Hodge was an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick in 2022. He already has 20 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in the 2023 season.  After entering the 2023 season with 10.5 sacks, Harvey has six tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack so far in 2023. Domineck has 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks through four games for the Buffs.