The TOMMY Group Launches to Support NIL Opportunities for USC Student-Athletes

The TOMMY Group announced its official arrival on the NIL scene Wednesday as the group helmed by six USC alumni, former athletes and fans is already working with 80 college student-athletes, including USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Among those six is TOMMY Group Co-Founder and former USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

“We are thrilled to formally announce the launch of The TOMMY Group and couldn’t be prouder of what this means for today’s young athlete, ” Johnson said in a statement. “This is a historic moment in college sports, and wasn’t something we had access to when [Alex] Holmes and I were coming up in the game. We’re excited to be at the forefront of this movement. We have an incredible opportunity at hand to tap into each of our professional expertises and personal networks to open up the world of personal branding, commercial deals and beyond to these kids in a major way. We’re not only setting the standard for NIL deals, we’re helping to strategically shape their futures.”

Fellow former USC football player Alex Holmes is also part of the group’s leadership team. The other four are:

John Terzian, co-founder and co-president of The h.wood Group
David Stromberg, an acclaimed entrepreneur, investor, entertainment strategist and diehard USC fan.
Avi Chesed, a lifelong technologist, philanthropist, mentor and 2003 graduate from the USC Marshall School of Business.
Mike Hahn, co-founder and partner at Ten Oaks Group, and another lifelong USC fan.

USC has consistently maintained support for its in-house NIL group, BLVD, which is referred to as a collective-plus. But it’s believed there will be a far more symbiotic relationship with the TOMMY Group than there was with Student Body Right when it announced its launch. The TOMMY Group does refer to itself as a collective, but its stated plan is to still create deals in the true spirit of NIL, connecting student-athletes to marketing and business opportunities based on their name, image and likeness.

Williams has been one of NIL’s superstars with multiple national partnerships.

“I’m happy to partner with the TOMMY group as their guidance and expertise has been valuable to me and my teammates,” Williams said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing all the different ways they can provide support for not only my team but other athletes in this new NIL era of college sports.”

About the TOMMY Group

In its press release, the TOMMY Group said this about itself:

“With a vision to build a best-in-class program in a previously uncharted territory, The TOMMY Group aims to align the needs of aspiring athletes with the interest of brands and businesses looking to cement their presence within the collegiate sports realm, driving mutually beneficial opportunities for all parties. From endorsement deals and public appearances, to commercial asset creation, marketing and PR, The TOMMY Group works closely with budding student-athletes to develop strong personal brands that reap the benefits of NIL off the field, all while staying 100% focused on what they do best on it. At its helm are Keyshawn Johnson, John Terzian, Dave Stromberg, Alex Holmes, Avi Chesed and Michael Hahn, all of whom have harnessed deep personal ties to the world of college sports and professional expertise spanning a myriad of industries to identify and deliver strategic brand alignments for the next generation of student-athletes through ethical NIL deals.”