Inside Battle’s End decision to send trio of Florida State players to John Lewis gala

Rob DeLoach has sent three children to college to play Division I athletics. His middle son, Kalen, is currently a redshirt junior linebacker at Florida State.

Playing in Tallahassee is part of a larger goal of earning a college degree and possibly playing in the NFL for Kalen DeLoach, FSU’s No. 2 returning tackler. College football has already opened up plenty of doors for Kalen.

But with the inception of NIL collectives, a few more opportunities have popped up for Kalen. Since the Battle’s End collective launched in early December, it has signed the majority of the Florida State football roster. It also has opted to go down the path of creating life opportunities for its athletes. For example, Trey Benson and Jordan Travis attended the Super Bowl in early February, as part of an exclusive Battle’s End member benefit.

DeLoach was one of three Seminoles players to attend the John R. Lewis Legacy Gala in Atlanta. He was joined by defensive tackle Fabien Lovett Sr. and defensive end Jared Verse.

“I explained to my son, they might not have known, John Lewis was their age when he was out there fighting for civil rights,” Rob DeLoach told On3 via phone. “He was not 40 or 50 years old. He was 19, 20 years old. They get an opportunity because of the sacrifice he and Dr. (Martin Luther) King and so many others went on that journey.

“They get to play football at some of these universities that at some point didn’t take African-Americans. To know the history of why is very important. And to actually be in attendance to get some of that history is life-changing.”

What trip to Atlanta looked like

The trip to the John Lewis Gala was as much as an educational experience as it was a networking opportunity for the Florida State trio. Before going into the event, DeLoach, Lovett and Verse were able to to tour a Freedom Rider bus.

Founded in 2021, the John R. Lewis Legacy Institute is a nonprofit with a mission to promote diversity, civil rights education and engage in community service projects. Lewis was a civil rights activist who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death in 2020.

The Seminoles attended the event and spent time with with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

“It’s important for today’s leaders to understand the sacrifices that were made to generate an increasingly more equitable framework,” John Lewis Legacy Institute patron Clark Seydel said in a statement to On3. “Understanding the fight isn’t over, these student-athletes chose to put their support behind the John Lewis Legacy Institute, knowing that their support will encourage others to practice the principles of John Lewis and his family. The foundation is focused on social justice, equity in education and equitable health outcomes.

“With these student-athletes’ great social reach, having them in attendance will have a positive impact on their many peers for years to come.”

While Battle’s End president Ingram Smith did not disclose the terms of the athletes’ deals, he said the trip was part of their partnership. Each athlete posted on Instagram, sharing their experiences from the weekend.

The trio of Florida State defensive stars are leaders in the locker room. They also are key players for a unit that ranked 15th in the nation in 2022 in total defense. With all three returning and a handful of other starters, the Seminoles are expected to be a preseason top-15 (and maybe even top-10) team.

“These players were selected as leaders, and we knew players with profiles such as Kalen, Fabien and Jared would bring value and awareness to the charity and their mission,” Smith said. “Also, in speaking to some of the players’ parents who were sent, we thought it would be particularly meaningful for them to have the opportunity to experience what that night provided.”

For Rob DeLoach, the opportunity to have his son learn more about the civil rights movement was crucial. But having the Florida State-focused NIL collective cover the expenses was also a benefit.

“I believe the sponsorship and NIL with Battles End has opened up some doors for not only Kalen but for multiple Florida State athletes for a number of things they’ll have the opportunity to experience outside of having to spend money out of their own pockets,” he said. “For me – normally it is the parents who have to provide the resources to attend something like this.”

Battle’s End continuing to grow footprint

Since joining the Florida State NIL collective market in early December, the Battle’s End has made significant headway. Primarily focused on football, the organization recently secured the endorsement of FSU coach Mike Norvell.

It also launched its website recently. Seminoles fans can join as monthly subscribers, with tiers ranging from $19.93 to $1,000. Each Battle’s End plan comes with a range of perks, from exclusive content to merchandise and pregame sideline access. The collective announced Monday it had representation in all 50 states.

The collective has made remarkable headway in reaching the school’s fan base in just three months.

“I’m not going to tell you that I’m John Ruiz and I have unlimited money,” Smith previously told On3. “But I will tell you that we can be as competitive as we want to be in this space.”