Texas One Fund NIL collective signs private jet company as corporate sponsor

The Texas One Fund is jetting into one of its most notable corporate sponsorships to date.

The NIL collective for Texas football and Texas athletics signed Nicholas Air as its private aviation partner. This is not the first time Nicholas Air has activated in the Austin market.

Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers signed an NIL deal with the company in April. The partnership calls for Ewers to have hours using Nicholas Air’s fleet of private jets for travel, training and philanthropy. A Heisman Trophy candidate entering the 2024 season, Ewers threw for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions last season while leading the Longhorns to a College Football Playoff berth.

Full terms of the Texas One Fund’s relationship with Nicholas Air were not disclosed. The partnership will surely build off Ewers’ relationship with the company and capitalize on Texas football.

“Texas One Fund is excited to add Nicholas Air as yet another corporate sponsor in a growing list of outstanding businesses committed to supporting student-athletes at Texas,” executive director Patrick “Wheels” Smith said.  

Nicholas Air initially signed Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in February. Since then, the company has continued to invest in NIL and college football. It’s not the first time a private jet company has done work in the NIL space. The Brandr Group and Wheels Up struck an agreement with the Ole Miss-driven NIL collective The Grove in December 2022.

Texas One Fund leading NIL collective in space

Five separate NIL entities focused on Longhorn athletics came together to form the Texas One Fund in November 2022. After jousting for funding, all efforts were consolidated under one umbrella.

If any questions remain about viability, look at the collectives that came together to form the Texas One Fund. Clark Field Collective announced an initial commitment of $10 million at its launch. Horns with Heart generated headlines with its plan to pay each offensive lineman $50,000 a year. Everyone is in unison in Austin, including the donors. 

The collective held an NIL benefit at Darrell K. Royal Stadium earlier this month. The country music duo Brooks & Dunn performed, along with Ryan Bingham with The Texas Gentlemen. A creative way to raise NIL dollars, fans had the chance to party at DKR with live music while celebrating the Longhorns. It was a chance to show appreciation for high-level donors, too.

Football coach Steve Sarkisian and men’s basketball coach Rodney Terry previously held a meet-and-greet with fans, with a $1,000 entry fee for a couple. The top-funded football collectives aim to have a payroll of $12 to $20 million for an 85-scholarship roster. Texas is viewed as a leader in the NIL collective world, easily pushing eight figures.

“It goes without saying, Texas has made some really strategic moves recently that have put them in a really good spot,” an SEC operator previously told On3.