2026 USC quarterback commit Julian Lewis inks first major NIL deal with Leaf Trading Cards

It was only a matter of time until Julian Lewis stepped into the NIL world.

The elite 2026 quarterback and USC commit patiently waited for the Georgia High School Athletic Association to make its move. Earlier this month the GHSA approved name, image and likeness, allowing high schoolers to monetize their publicity rights while not losing eligibility status. It’s expected to set a domino effect across the southeast.

Lewis has now inked his first major NIL deal.

The four-star quarterback signed with Leaf Trading Cards in an agreement procured by Everett Sports Marketing. The agency does not formally represent Lewis but assisted with his first notable endorsement deal.

While he’s viewed by many as the future star of college football, he is also built to succeed in the NIL space. The sophomore in high school has more than 192,000 social media followers. He’s thrown for 1,920 yards with 29 touchdowns, leading Carrollton to a 7-1 record this season.

“This is a significant six-figure deal at first-round NFL quarterback values on the per signature basis,” ESM’s Dan Everett told On3. ESM has emerged as a go-to agency for some of the top college NIL stars, including Brock Bowers and Haley Cavinder.

Leaf has worked with a number of high-profile athletes in the last 26 months, signing deals with Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams. In recent months, the trading card company has signed major partnerships with LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne and UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers.

Trading cards have become a popular activation for college athletes, now trickling down to high school sports. Signing Lewis is a major win for Leaf, which is releasing a NextGen card with the quarterback as part of the agreement.

“We here at Leaf could not be more excited about signing Julian ‘Juju’ Lewis to a deal,” Leaf Trading Cards president Josh Pankow said. “The potential for Julian is off the charts as he continues to amaze this year. We look forward to working with Julian and producing many highly collectible cards for his fans to collect.”

Julian Lewis’ rising NIL marketability

Viewed as a generational quarterback talent, Lewis made the decision to wait out the GHSA instead of moving to a state where NIL is permitted at the high school level. Sources told On3 that part of the reason the state association even moved to make a decision on NIL was because of Lewis.

Now he has his first major deal in hand. Leaf Trading Cards will only be the starting point for the 6-foot, 185-pound quarterback. With two more years remaining of high school ball, more national brands will want to begin their relationships early with Lewis. Plus, some Georgia-centric brands will try to work with him before he leaves for Los Angeles.

The heavily-touted quarterback committed to USC after making just four visits to meet with Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. Working with Riley, who’s built a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, was obviously part of the draw.

The NIL success Caleb Williams has found since winning the Heisman Trophy last year surely factored in, too. The City of Angels provides all the resources needed to shoot quality content for brands. Most companies who will want to align with him have offices in the nation’s second-largest city. Filming a commercial and zipping back to campus for practice could be an average day for Lewis. 

The USC brand itself is one of the most valuable in college sports, too. As the NIL market continues to develop, more endorsement deals could incorporate institutional marks. Williams showed that in a recent NIL campaign with United, posing in a USC uniform on an airport tarmac.

Lewis boasts a $477,000 On3 NIL Valuation, sitting at No. 5 in the high school football NIL rankings. The annual projection is sky-high because of the value his social media following provides to brands.

The valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

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