UCLA's Laiatu Latu helps shoppers sack Black Friday through NIL deal with Newegg

UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu loves tackling quarterbacks. But through his new NIL agreement, Latu is helping fans tackle Black Friday deals.

Latu, who ranks in the top 20 of ESPN’s NFL draft player rankings, announced a new NIL deal with Newegg on Wednesday. Newegg is considered the top online-only electronics retailer in North America. Latu is also promoting Seagate, a leader in data storage technology and solutions, through the arrangement.

The deal is the second entry into the NIL space for Newegg and another significant partnership for Latu. Last spring, the company promoted an NIL deal with former UCLA basketball star Jaylen Clark. Clark is now a rookie with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Latu appears in a commercial released Wednesday as part of the agreement. In the spot, he’s shown lifting weights, doing footwork drills and working with a portable hard drive and computer.

“You depend on a great drive just like you depend on a great defense,” the voiceover in the commercial says.

Latu said he uses Newegg equipment in his daily life to work on class assignments and review information from the UCLA coaches. Latu also uses a fitness wearable that helps him track his health and sleep statistics. Plus, he plays a lot of Fortnite on X-Box online with teammates.

“When I’m looking for tech products, I shop online at Newegg because they have everything I want,” Latu said in a statement provided to On3. “This has been an amazing year for me both on the football field and on campus. Joining Newegg and Seagate to promote their holiday sales is another great milestone.”

Laiatu Latu one of college football’s best defenders

Laiatu Latu led the Bruins in tackles for a loss (12.5) and sacks (10) last season. Through 10 games this season, he already has 39 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks and one interception. Most experts have him ranked as the top EDGE rusher in all of college football.

“Disruptor and game changer are used in the tech industry to describe a person who is innovative and unique, but those terms also describe Laiatu Latu in a college football game,” said Eric Wein, director of public relations for Newegg. “He can make a major impact on the game’s outcome. Newegg and Seagate are aligning with a player described as an unstoppable force because we want to connect with Latu’s drive for success.”

Latu doesn’t have a long list of NIL partnerships, but he does bring awareness and value to brands he works with. For example, he appeared before the season in an agreement with SAXX Underwear that went viral all over social media.

Laiatu Latu’s On3 NIL Valuation of $730,000 ranks No. 56 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

About the On3 NIL Valuation

The On3 NIL 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.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value

While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career. The On3 NIL Valuation accounts for an athlete’s roster value and brand value. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. Brand value factors in an athlete’s personal brand and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.