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Michigan freshman Darrius Clemons signs NIL deal with Randy Wise Automotive

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•08/31/22•

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On3 ranked Michigan Wolverines football wideout Darrius Clemons the No. 76 overall player in 2022. (Photo by EJ Holland / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football freshman wide receiver Darrius Clemons has a new NIL deal. The former four-star recruit and top player in Oregon is now the ‘official wide receiver’ for Randy Wise Automotive.

Randy Wise has provided Clemons with a new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The group, which is based primarily in Genesee County, will team up with Clemons “on various marketing and charitable ventures over the course of the next two years,” according to a company press release.

In the deal, Clemons is represented by Valiant Management, led by former Michigan football player Jared Wangler. Wangler and Co. have helped U-M players secure over $2 million in NIL deals since the groundbreaking rule change occurred in July 2021.

Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy signed a deal as Randy Wise Automotive’s ‘official quarterback’ in February.

“With Valiant, we continue to expand the NIL program at Michigan and couldn’t be happier to partner with Darrius!” Chris Wise, Vice President of the Randy Wise Automotive Team, said in a statement. “We welcome him from the West Coast with open arms and can’t wait to work together to make a difference on and off the field in our community!”

“The NIL rule change has opened up great opportunities for college athletes from all over the country. I am excited to align myself with a great family owned Michigan brand,” Wangler said in a statement.

Clemons has impressed ever since arriving on the Michigan campus in January. He was a spring standout, notching three catches for a game-high 52 yards in the program’s April 2 scrimmage. That included a 35-yard, highlight-reel touchdown catch.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that Clemons is among a group of 10 ‘good’ receivers on the Wolverines’ roster, fighting for rotational snaps. He’ll likely play a role right away.

Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy compared Clemons to one of his former teammates and a U-M great, Jason Avant. He said Clemons, like Avant, is willing to do the “dirty work,” even before he becomes a “polished” receiver.

“Darrius is that guy that say ‘Hey coach, put me in. I don’t care if it’s a blocking play, put me in,’ you know he’s that guy that kinda carries that torch,” Bellamy explained. “It’s cool for a young guy to kinda carry that torch.”

Clemons has an On3 NIL Valuation of $73,000, which ranks 523rd in college football. On3’s NIL Valuation isn’t a projection of how much a player is making or will make, but rather serves as a snapshot of their value in a specific moment of time.

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