Liberty Flame’s discus throw sensation has been one of the most etched names in the collegiate track and field annals. The major reason for appraisal is his outstanding performance this season. He registered a Season-best 194-3 discus mark at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier set and ranked No. 1 nationally among freshmen in 2023. 

In the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round discus competition, Desmond Coleman failed just one centimeter shy of national qualification. However, the track and field star has turned the tables this time. It is not due to his performance in the field but a deal he sealed with WWE or TKO group holdings.

Track and field star sealing the NIL deal

The recent Instagram post on Desmond Coleman’s social media handle was captioned as “I do by declare, I AM JOINING NIL CLASS 4 BABYY!“. Dosemond Coleman became one of the 14 athletes across multiple sports, joining the NIL deal on the second anniversary of the inception of WWE’s NIL Program. 

NIL refers to the Name, Image, and Likeness program or “Next In Line” that offers athletes a clear pathway from their respective collegiate sports to WWE. In addition to this, NIL recruits and nurtures future superstars, which is a major reason for enhancing WWE’s talent process through collaborative partnerships. This year’s inclusions also feature Darci Khan, Grace Stephens, Jeremy Cody, and Kali Terza from track and field.

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Interestingly, Coleman, after this deal, will be moving forward to join WWE Track and Field while leaving his team, Liberty Flames. Consequently, Coleman will also access the organization’s resources, such as media training, live event promotion, community relations, creative writing, and the WWE’s state-of-the-art performance center in Orlando. Till now, the deal has signed 60 athletes, including 14 added this year across 15 different sports. 

14 athletes securing the NIL deal this year

The importance of the NIL deal is not only limited to the resources across the organization but also extends to an opportunity to be offered a contract upon the successful completion of the NIL program. Two of the nation’s top-ranking wrestling sensations have also signed the deal along with Coleman. 

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This year’s NIL program highlighted Lucas Davison from Michigan’s wrestling team and former Big 12 champion Stephen Buchanan from Oklahoma’s wrestling team. The class also features the first acrobatics athlete, Bayley Humphrey, the first baseball player, Adam Berghorst, and the first male cheerleader, Slane Glover. 

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