Penn State athletes Greg Kerkvliet, Nick Dawkins, picked for WWE's "Next in Line" NIL program
A pair of Penn State athletes have been selected for the WWE’s name, image, and likeness program, which goes by the name “Next In Line.”
Heavyweight wrestler Greg Kerkvliet and Lions lineman Nick Dawkins are two of 15 athletes in the company’s third class in as many years. Billed as “a clear pathway from collegiate athletics to WWE,” the company says that “Next in Line” “serves to recruit and develop potential future Superstars and further enhances WWE’s talent development process through collaborative partnerships with college athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds.”
Kerkvliet is the nation’s second-ranked heavyweight wrestler, according to InterMat. He is a two-time All-American. And, he boasts nearly 12,000 followers on Instagram.
Dawkins, then, is known for his fun personality and podcasting abilities, in addition to his work on the football field. He has a combined social media following of nearly 20,000 people. His On3 NIL valuation sits at $41,000.
A WWE campus tour put Penn State athletes in line to be picked
The “WWE Campus Rush” tour made a December stop in State College. It is “a multi-campus college athlete recruitment tour.” And, it helped lead Kerkvliet and Dawkins to represent Penn State in the third “Next In Line” class.
A WWE press release notes what the two gain by being in the “Next in Line” program.
“All athlete partnerships feature access to the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., in addition to resources across the organization including brand building, media training, communications, live event promotion, creative writing and community relations,” it said.
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“Upon completion of the NIL program, select athletes may earn an exclusive opportunity to be offered a WWE contract.”
Kerkvliet and Dawkins are the first Penn State athletes to be picked for WWE “Next in Line.”
More NIL developments
NIL developments continue to happen rapidly at Penn State. For example, the Lions now have a new deal with INFLCR and Accelerate Sports Ventures.
“Penn State has been working with Accelerate Sports Ventures since July in an endeavor meant to organize and unify the athletic department’s NIL strategic approach,” BWI’s Nate Bauer reports. That will remain in place as the department continues to pursue a coherent plan toward maximizing NIL opportunities for student-athletes within Penn State’s specific vision.
“Penn State’s partnership with INFLCR, however, has recently grown to include its marketplace functionality. A leader in the NIL space, INFLCR had previously provided Penn State student-athletes with photo and video resources. They were meant to help establish a social media presence. Now, Penn State’s deal with INFLCR also includes the Nittany Lion Exchange. The marketplace will aim to connect businesses and student-athletes directly.”
