Drew Brees, a retired quarterback, surprised Emilee Cox, a Purdue softball player, on Wednesday.
Cox was sitting in the student-athlete academic centre in West Lafayette, Indiana. It was named after the New Orleans Saints icon. Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux offered Cox a name and image deal.
The Baton Rouge-based restaurant has over 50 locations across the country. It recently launched the "Walk-On of the Week", a program that offers NIL deals for collegiate athletes. The brand invites weekly NIL award recipients to join its "Walk-On's Family of Athletes" which includes Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
Brandon Landry, an ex-walk-on basketball player at LSU, founded the restaurant franchise in 2003. In 2015, Brees was made co-owner.
A news release stated that the "Walk-On of the week" program has partnered with walk-on athletes in order to share their stories on the brand's social media platforms.
According to Landry's news release, "We created this program in order to celebrate the true magic of sports -- that of the underdog." "With NIL changing collegiate athletics landscape, we want walk-ons to be included and get the support and recognition they deserve." We are grateful to share their stories with you and to welcome them into our Family of Athletes.
Cox was present in 19 games last season for the Boilermakers, before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
