The swoosh is making moves in Baton Rouge that’ll reshape how college athletes build their brands. Nike locked down LSU through 2036 on Thursday and picked Lane Kiffin’s Tigers as the launchpad for Blue Ribbon Elite, a first-of-its-kind NIL program that treats college kids like they’re already pros. Every other school in the country is watching what happens next.

LSU Athletics announced the partnership extension with the $93 Billion Shoe giant alongside the debut of 10 Tiger athletes joining Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite roster. The group spans football, basketball, softball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball. Football freshmen DJ Pickett and Trey’Dez Green headline the class. Basketball’s ZaKiyah Johnson and Dedan Thomas Jr. signed on. Softball landed Tori Edwards and Jayden Heavener. Ba

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