Iowa football, basketball players to host NIL meet-and-greet at world's largest truck stop
With the football and basketball offseasons in full swing, the Iowa-focused Swarm Collective is once again getting creative.
Athletes from the football and basketball programs are heading to the Iowa 80 Truckstop – the “world’s largest truckstop” – in Walcott, Iowa, for an NIL meet-and-greet in partnership with the collective. The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. June 17, and the players will be available for photos and autographs.
Tight end Luke Lachey and linebacker Nick Jackson shared their plans to attend on social media, and more announcements are coming. Linebacker Jay Higgins also announced he’d be there.
A notable tourist attraction off Interstate 80, the Iowa 80 Truckstop features eight restaurants and is open 24 hours a day. Opened in 1964, it also features a convenience store, barber shop, dentist, chiropractor and more amenities.
It’s the latest unique meet-and-greet for the Swarm Collective. In late April, 11 Iowa women’s basketball players – including Kylie Feuerbach, Hannah Stuelke and Sydney Affolter – took part in an event at Riverside Casino after rattling off a run to the national championship game. According to CBS 2 Iowa, the line was so long to get in, that it went all the way out to the parking lot. Riverside Casino is owned by Elite Casino Resorts, which committed $500,000 to the Swarm Collective in January 2023.
Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara also met with fans at the casino as he gets ready to return to the Hawkeyes in 2024. The former Michigan transfer missed most of the 2023 season after suffering a leg injury, but will be back for another go-round, he announced in October.
Swarm Collective showcases Iowa athletes
In addition to its creative meet-and-greets, the Swarm Collective has facilitated multiple deals for Iowa athletes during the month of May.
In late May, a group of athletes such as running back Leshon Williams and tight end Addison Ostrenga both secured partnerships with Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company through the collective, and forward Ladji Dembele hosted a basketball camp through the organization.
That came after multiple athletes – including Stuelke, Ethan Hurkett and Pryce Sandfort – joined forces with JDRF and offensive lineman Mason Richman partnered with Powerade, all facilitated by the Swarm Collective.