Cam Coleman and Colin Simmons headline 16 Texas Longhorns student-athletes who have signed NIL deals with Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite program, further establishing the Steve Sarkisian-coached team as the most marketable roster in college football.
Cam Coleman, Colin Simmons Join Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite Program as Texas NIL Power Grows
Coleman, who transferred from Auburn during the offseason to strengthen Texas’s wide receiver group in the 2026 season, was selected by Nike for a program designed to bring together top college athletes across various sports.
The Blue Ribbon Elite program aims to empower athletes to become influential leaders in their sports and to provide opportunities to shape the future of college sports and culture through mentorship, personal branding, and community initiatives. Coleman’s teammates Simmons, Dia Bell, Jonah Williams, who also plays baseball, and Ryan Wingo were the other Longhorns football members in the program.
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They were selected alongside Reese Atwood (softball), Teagan Kavan (softball), Hubert Kós (swimming), Ava McDonald (soccer), Tommy Morrison (golf), Eva Okaro (swimming), Farah O’Keefe (golf), Aiden Robbins (baseball), Cari Spears (volleyball), Torrey Stafford (volleyball), and Dylan Volantis (baseball).
“We’re deeply proud to partner with the University of Texas, an iconic institution whose legacy and leadership align naturally with an athlete-centered model that reflects where Nike and college athletics are headed,” Ann Miller, Nike executive vice-president, Global Sports Marketing, said.
Coleman confirmed the deal on Friday on his Instagram page with the message: “Everything is bigger in Texas, especially with #TeamNIKE.”
The Nike deal further boosted Texas’s standing as the most marketable roster in college football. Before this, Coleman’s NIL value was estimated at $2.9 million, ranking him eighth among college players with the highest valuations.
He ranks second in the Longhorns program behind Texas QB Arch Manning, who is valued at $5.4 million, making him the top NIL-valued college athlete this season, according to On3. Simmons is third among Longhorns football players at $1.5 million (37th overall). Wingo is fourth at approximately $1.5 million.
For his part, Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte hailed the collaborative effort by the school and the apparel brand. “This is such a unique, innovative and awesome opportunity for our student-athletes to collaborate with Nike in their Blue Ribbon Elite program,” Del Conte said. “We’re beyond grateful to Nike for extending this to us and for our longstanding relationship with them.”
Launched in 2025, Blue Ribbon Elite provides leading athletes and universities with extensive support for the future of sport and athlete identity. Nike and Texas have partnered for 26 years, and this program further strengthens their connection. Coleman, Simmons, and other Longhorns join Nike’s group of about 60 elite NIL athletes.
“I’ve always been a big sports fan, and growing up watching college, professional, and Olympic athletes, Nike was a brand worn by so many great athletes I looked up to,” Wingo said. “It’s really an honor and means a lot to represent a brand I grew up watching my favorite players wear. Playing for Texas and being a Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athlete, that’s a big motivation to chase greatness.”
Before transferring to Texas, Coleman recorded 56 receptions for 708 yards and five touchdowns at Auburn last season, and totaled 93 catches, 1,306 yards, and 13 touchdowns in his collegiate career, averaging 14 yards per catch.
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Simmons finished the 2025 season with 43 tackles and 12 sacks, compared to 48 tackles and 9 sacks in 2024. Coleman, Simmons, and Manning will lead Texas in the 2026 season, which begins September 5 against Texas State. Key matchups include games against Ohio State, Utah, and Tennessee later in September.
This past season, the Longhorns went 10-3, with wins over San Jose State, UTEP, Sam Houston, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M during the regular season, capped by a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan on December 31.
