Manhattan, Kansas – March 2, 2023 – Blueprint Sports, the industry leader in full-service Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collectives, is teaming up with Wildcats’ Den -- the first NIL collective supporting student-athletes at Kansas State University (K-State).

Originally launched by Aaron Lockett in April 2022, Wildcats’ Den will continue to support K-State football student-athletes, in addition to women’s volleyball. Lockett has deep roots in K-State football, playing as a wide receiver from 1998 to 2001. He was a four-time All-Big 12 selection and was selected as a second-team All-American in 2000, before being drafted into the NFL by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. “Opportunities are unlimited at Kansas State with so many alumni, partners, and supporters. As student-athletes create connections with local companies and attend community events, they need the Wildcats’ Den to maximize their possibilities,” said Lockett. “I want to help our student-athletes and their families because they deserve more for their hard work and devotion.” In addition to Lockett, the partnership with Blueprint Sports brings other notable names in the K-State family including former football player and co-founder of the K-State Staley School of Leadership Chad Faulkner and Steve Miller, former Athletic Director at K-State. Miller currently serves as chief executive officer for the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, a founding partner of Blueprint Sports.

“The introduction of NIL into the landscape of college athletics has presented the greatest opportunity to date for individuals and companies looking to support student-athletes,” said Miller. “The Wildcats’ Den will set the example for how to best work with student-athletes at K-State and engage the community at the same time.” Through the Wildcats’ Den individuals can make tax-deductible contributions through the BPS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) partner organization formed to educate, encourage, and assist student-athletes in their efforts to engage with the local community through charitable causes. Additionally, local and national businesses can align their brands with K-State student-athletes by creating custom marketing campaigns, planning speaking engagements, autograph sessions, participating in charity events, and more. For more information visit thewildcatsden.com and follow @WildcatsDenKSU on Twitter and @wildcatsden7 on Instagram.

About Blueprint Sports

Founded in Las Vegas in 2020 and backed by Andre Agassi, eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion, Blueprint Sports (BPS) powers the industry's leading name, image, and likeness (NIL) collectives for alumni, supporters, and businesses, connecting them with student-athletes at their favorite university. BPS' national portfolio of collectives supports student-athletes across the country, including around Florida State University, Penn State University, Boston College, NC State University, Villanova University, Gonzaga University, University of Arizona, University of Tennessee, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Nevada, Ohio University, University of Toledo, Montana State University and more. The Blueprint Sports management team possesses over 50 years of college and professional sports experience, spanning the Pac-12 Conference, IMG, Learfield, and Nevada Athletics Commission, among others. For more information, visit www.blueprintsports.com or its pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) On June 30, 2021, the Division I Board of Directors approved an interim name, image, and likeness policy. This new policy allows all NCAA DI, DII, and DIII student-athletes to be compensated for their NIL as of July 1, 2021. Student-athletes can now engage in paid community appearances, autograph sessions, youth coaching engagements, and sports marketing campaigns.

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Media Contact:
Gracie Gordon-(775)720-9951/ gracie@theferrarogroup.com