Former college football staffer uses NIL to create visually stunning trading card business

Working as a creative director and graphic designer for nearly a decade in football offices at Oklahoma State and South Carolina, Joe Johnson saw first-hand the impact edits had on the recruiting process and with players already on the team.

So, when Johnson saw NIL taking a foothold in college sports, he decided to use his design talents to create a business. That business, Johnso Creative, has now agreed to its first major NIL deal with Florida State star running back Trey Benson.

A key transfer portal pick-up a season ago, Benson blossomed into a major weapon at running back this season for the Seminoles. He gained 965 rushing yards and scored nine touchdowns while ranking No. 5 in the NCAA with a 6.8-yards-per-carry average.

And for Johnson, Benson is the perfect partner to launch his first deal and feature his work on a NIL trading card. The cards are available on JohnsoCreative.com. The deal was brokered by Joe Hernandez of the Just Win Management Group.

“I’ve always loved collegiate design, seems like it’s been my entire life the last 10 years,” Johnson told On3. “This past year I was involved with trading card design, and it really opened new doors. I love the industry and as a designer, I wanted to continue in ‘The Hobby.’ I was approached by an investor and Trey Benson was on his list. So, here we go.”

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Trading cards becoming big part of NIL

The end result is a visually stunning NIL trading card.

There are others in the space, including Leaf Trading Cards, who have announced major NIL partnerships with Livvy Dunne, Tennessee five-star quarterback signee Nico Iamaleava and USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams over the past few months. Heck, even Boise State and Oregon have partnered with local businesses to create trading card sets for the entire football roster.

But Johnson’s work is something that certainly stands out from the crowd.

“I want to design cards that connect with the fan base, and all cards will be on-card autographs,” Johnson said. “No stickers here. Trey will have 200 cards, which include 10 inscriptions. There will also be color variations and the cards will be numbered.”

Numbering in the sports card industry is a big deal. It’s something that’s incorporated into Johnson’s work with Benson and in any other NIL deals moving forward.

“For example, the name tag set will be limited to just three sets and will be sold as such,” Johnson said. “Each card in the set will be autographed and once the sets are gone, that’s it.”

What’s next for Johnso Creative?

Johnson is already working hard on his next NIL partnerships. Stars from Georgia, Alabama and Clemson are next on his wish list. But he also knows he’s got plenty of work ahead if he wants to build a national brand through NIL.

“Finding the who’s who of the NIL world, along with who their agents are sometimes tough,” Johnson said. “Some guys make it super easy with their representation on their Twitter or Instagram. Others you have to go hunting.

“But college sports and design are my passions. I’m excited I have the opportunity to help players make some money on their end and also use my passion to build a business on my end. It’s the perfect opportunity.”