The Ram Collective Launches to Provide Mentoring and NIL Support for CSU Athletes

Oct 10

Former Ram Athletes Aim to Mentor Current CSU Student Athletes, Helping Them Grow and Thrive in the New Era of NIL

October 10, 2024 Thornton, Colo. – The Ram Collective, LLC (TRC) officially launched its membership association today. Comprised of former Colorado State Ram athletes from all sports, TRC seeks to connect its members with current CSU student athletes to help them grow and thrive in the new era of Name Image Likeness (NIL) in collegiate sports. In addition to networking and mentorship opportunities, TRC helps broker NIL deals and partnerships with all current Ram players.

“Everyone agrees the landscape of college athletics is changing and, as former players, we’re excited to give back to today’s student athletes,” said TRC Executive Director Todd Eakes. “We’re uniquely positioned to broker NIL deals and sponsorships for CSU players in a way no other Collective can.”

Currently, the only way for most businesses or individuals to connect NIL deals directly with players is through third-party sites like Opendorse, which charge as much as $0.33 on the dollar to match players to opportunities.

“TRC collects less than half that amount,” Eakes said. “And we can provide a far more curated experience, as we already have the connections and relationships with the players.”

Colorado State University’s official collective The Green and Gold Guard was started in 2022 by current Athletic Director John Weber. Since that time, Eakes has recognized the need for an additional, independent collective to further support CSU athletes.

“The Green & Gold Guard has done a fantastic job ushering CSU into the NIL era; however, their primary focus is working with charities,” said Eakes. “It’s not uncommon for big time college programs to have two – or even three – different collectives operating at the same time, each focused on a specific niche. As CSU prepares to move to the PAC-12, we can’t think of a better time to launch than now.”

To learn more about TRC, check out www.theramcollective.com or on Instagram and X.