Clemson’s latest Nike connection is starting to take shape, and the school now has six football names tied to the new Blue Ribbon Elite push.
The announcement comes after Nike revealed a broader partnership built around Clemson student-athletes across multiple sports, part of a 25-year relationship with the university. Texas, LSU, South Carolina and Ole Miss are also included in the newly founded partnership.
Clemson Football then identified five players on its side of the program: junior wide receiver T.J. Moore, senior defensive end Will Heldt, sophomore running back Gideon Davidson, junior wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. and junior cornerback Ashton Hampton.
Nike’s NIL roster also includes five-star wide receiver commit Jamarin Simmons, along with several other top recruits. Among the high school prospects linked to Nike are Georgia’s Jaxon Dollar, Alabama’s Elijah Haven, LSU’s Peyton Houston and UCLA’s JuJu Johnson.
Heldt talked about the deal during ACC Kickoff on Thursday, and he made it clear the moment meant a lot to him.
“I’m pumped up about that - to be a part of the Nike family,” he told Clemson Tigers on SI. “Obviously, that’s a dream partnership, and when you’re a kid, you think, ‘What would be the coolest partnership I could think of?’
and Nike’s one of the ones that pops in your head. I think the child version of me would be very proud of that.”
He also pointed to Nike’s growing interest in the college game.
“I think the U.S. Nike Football team really wanted to dive into the College Football realm a little bit more. They did a little bit last year, but this year they really formulated a group of 50 to 60 college guys, so I’m really blessed to be a part of that group.”
The fit makes sense for Heldt, who arrived from Purdue and turned in a strong first season at Clemson in 2025. He posted 46 tackles, 15.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks, finishing tied fourth in the ACC in tackles for loss and tied fifth in sacks.
Nike described what it wants the Blue Ribbon Elite program to be in its own words: “Nike’s partnership with each Blue Ribbon Elite athlete and their University will go beyond brand representation, inspiring the student body and community to collaborate through brand campaigns, product innovation and creative direction.”
For Clemson, the partnership lines up with a bigger idea already in place: developing athletes for more than just what happens on Saturdays.
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