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Utah center Branden Carlson is looking for an NIL assist from his athletic department. After the Utes‘ football team struck a historic deal earlier this week, the basketball star is hoping to get in on the action.
Carlson posted a hilarious response to seeing Utah’s ridiculous agreement with the Crimson Collective that will give all 85 scholarship players keys to a new Dodge Ram.
He’s suddenly having car troubles.
The big man posted a message on social media Wednesday night saying, “Got bad news last week that I would need a total engine replacement in my Hyundai. So, I’m in the market for a new car… or truck…”
The quip comes after Utah’s recent NIL deal that gave every football player a lease on a new truck retailing at $61,000 each. Eighty-five trucks for 85 players. The agreement is reportedly valued at $6 million.
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The deal is unlike anything we’ve seen in college athletics to this point, as in the past, these types of agreements have typically involved maybe one, or a handful of players.
Never an entire team.
Branden Carlson is looking to get the whole athletic department in on the fun.
Utah fans were quick to react to his response, posting their replies in the comments section.
“Can you play QB?” one follower asked.
“Time to throw on some pads,” someone else said.
Carlson had some fun with his followers, and it seems he’ll do anything to get himself inside one of those 2024 Dodge Ram Big Horn 1500s.
“I think I could be good on special teams for blocking a field goal,” he quipped to one social media user.
There’s probably some truth to that given his seven-foot stature.
While he won’t be riding around campus in a new truck (for now), Carlson should be a key part of the Utes’ basketball squad in the coming season. Last year, the center averaged 16.4 points and 7.5 boards a night to earn First-Team PAC 12 honors.
If he can help the program get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016, maybe the Utah basketball team will be the next in line for an NIL deal.