Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux matching Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman's $50K for walk-ons
Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux is stepping up to match Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman’s gift to walk-on players.
The senior announced during a team meeting last month that he was sharing $50,000 of his NIL earnings with Oklahoma walk-ons. The dollars were divvied up with 18 walk-ons.
Now the restaurant is doing its part to support walk-ons. According to Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux will match Stutsman’s $50,000. On top of that, Walk On’s is placing linebacker Owen Heinecke on full scholarship.
“What a great gesture on his part,” Venables said on Oklahoma’s Monday night radio show. “What a great example he is for not only the guys in the locker room but for people (in) society.”
The 6-foot-4, 243-pound linebacker was a third-team AP All-American selection last season and has started 28 of the 38 career games he’s played in. He crossed the career mark of 300 total tackles in Saturday’s win over Tulane. Stutsman has posted 29.5 career tackles for loss.
The news comes as No. 15 Oklahoma hosts No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday in the Sooners’ first SEC game in program history.
When he decided to give $50,000 of his own NIL earnings to Oklahoma walk-ons, he also gifted the 18 players a JBL care package.
“I feel like I have a really good connection with all of you guys and I just know how much you put into this program,” he said in August. “… With that being said, I want to donate some of my NIL earnings to you guys.”
Stutsman went viral last season after the Red River Rivalry. Wearing the Golden Hat on his head, cigar in his right hand and flashing a Horns Down, Stutsman posed for his photo that will live in Red River Rivalry history. The photo has over 52,000 likes on Instagram and landed him on the Pat McAfee Show and The Jim Rome Show.
Danny Stutsman capitalized on it, too, launching a T-shirt with the Oklahoma City-based company Opolis Clothing on Wednesday. The shirt features an illustration of his famed photo and the line from his pregame speech on the back.
The linebacker holds an On3 NIL Valuation of $412,000.
“I’m walking up the tunnel and I was like, it smells like cigars,” he previously told On3 about the postgame scene of Red River Rivalry. “I was just walking through the locker room, people were celebrating and already taking pictures. I was like, ‘I got to take a picture.’ Had some sunglasses, and I love sunglasses. Popped those on. Then yeah, I took the photo. I went on with my day.”