Savage Wolves brings focused approach to NC State NIL space

The Savage Wolves NIL collective hit the ground running recently. As it continues to help NC State expand into the NIL space, Tom Livolsi, one of the founding members, has big plans for the organization. 

While the specific launch date is unclear, the collective has built an impressive athlete membership during the past couple of months. This is NC State’s second NIL collective, but it will not compete with Pack of Wolves. 

Instead, Livolsi said the two organizations will often work together while specializing in different areas. 

“We have a very symbiotic relationship,” Livolsi said in an interview with TheWolfpacker.com. “We’re going to help each other any way we can.”

Savage Wolves focuses on building a more “intimate” connection between its donors and NC State’s athletes. 

“Everybody who signs up to be a member, I want them to [be on] a first-name basis with all these athletes that they’re supporting,” Livolsi said. 

Linebacker Payton Wilson, who is a headlining athlete on the collective’s website alongside quarterback Brennan Armstrong, has already attended a donor’s child’s football practice as a part of his work with Savage Wolves, and the organization will offer similar opportunities going forward. 

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NC State’s coaching staff, Wilson and Armstrong will work with the collective at the Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament this year, and fans, chosen via raffle, will have the opportunity to fish with that group.

The collective has only worked with football players due to Livolsi’s connection with the athletes from previous NIL deals. Basketball athletes could be added to the roster before the 2023-2024 season. 

When these contracts first became permissible under NCAA rules, the Gopher Inc. co-founder said he quickly began working with a few Wolfpack stars, including Wilson, Drake Thomas and former quarterback Devin Leary. 

“After being involved for the last year or so through Gopher and some of my other businesses, I’ve had a firsthand seat and a bird’s-eye view of the impact that NIL really does make on these families and these athletes,” Livolsi said. “I’m talking life-changing stuff, man.”

An important part of running a collective for Livolsi is making sure it remains grounded in its community. The Savage Wolves athletes will regularly volunteer at organizations in the Research Triangle area. 

The collective also offers “life skill camps” where the businessman will offer classes that include lessons on how to do taxes, how to tie a necktie and networking events that will prepare the athletes for their post-football careers. 

“What I’m trying to break is this stigma that we’re just paying players,” Livolsi said.  

Pack of Wolves previously made headlines for offering $25,000 per year in NIL deals to 85 of NC State’s football athletes. Savage Wolves will focus more on “the big-name athletes at the school.”

Livolsi said the Wolfpack athletic department has been more than happy to work with and support the collective. 

“I can’t speak highly enough, honestly,” he said. “I think our administration has done a very good job of bringing all of the pieces and parts together because, at the end of the day, we’re all working towards the same goal.”

As NC State continues to compete within the NIL space, Livolsi said the fan base is the program’s greatest advantage. 

“There’s no other fan base in the country that is more deserving of success, and I think this is the opportunity for our fan base to kind of put their money where their mouth is and be a part of it,” Livolsi said. 

The collective’s co-owner, alongside Andy Albright and Paul Marley, involved the fans as they built Savage Wolves, offering surveys to see what would incentivize membership. Exclusive team access was the most frequent answer. 

During the season, collective members will receive a tour of NC State’s football facilities and watch the game from the sidelines. Members are also invited to a VIP tailgate that features appearances from NFL players and NC State alumni.

In addition to Armstrong and Wilson, the collective’s website lists Aydan White, Trent Pennix, Davin Vann and 19 other members of the team as Savage Wolves athletes. All six incoming transfers joined the collective, as did five early-enrollee freshmen. 

Savage Wolves, or any other NIL collective, cannot contact recruits directly, but questions about endorsement opportunities naturally arise during visits by prospects. Livolsi said that the collective is relying on the program’s current athletes to spread the news about this new opportunity which will “kind of snowball, hopefully.”

“The athletes that we’ve brought into the Savage Wolves family, they’re our biggest advocates,” Livolsi said.