WWE unveils inaugural class of NIL signees

WWE has unveiled its inaugural class of NIL recruits.

The class consists of 15 college athletes who have signed NIL deals with WWE. NIL deals allow athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness while still in college.

WWE is calling its NIL program “Next in Line.” The athletes who partner with WWE as part of the program will receive access to the WWE Performance Center, along with resources in brand building, media training, communications, live event promotion, creative writing, and community relations. Select athletes may be offered a WWE contract upon completion of the program.

Thirteen universities, seven NCAA conferences, and four sports are represented in WWE’s inaugural NIL class. The 15 athletes who are part of the class are:

  • Carlos Aviles, of Ventura, Calif., a 6-foot-6, 305-pound track & field athlete from Ohio State University
  • Haley Cavinder, of Gilbert, Ariz., a 5-foot-6 basketball player from Fresno State University
  • Hanna Cavinder, of Gilbert, Ariz., a 5-foot-6 basketball player from Fresno State University
  • A.J. Ferrari of Dallas, Texas, a 6-foot, 200-pound wrestler from Oklahoma State University
  • Lexi Gordon of Fort Worth, Texas, a 6-foot basketball player from Duke University
  • Aleeya Hutchins of Toronto, Canada, a 5-foot-5 track & field athlete from Wake Forest University
  • John Krahn of Riverside, Calif., a 7-foot, 400-pound football player from Portland State University
  • Glen Logan of Kenner, La., a 6-foot-5, 305-pound football player from LSU
  • Isaac Odugbesan of Lagos, Nigeria, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound football player from the University of Alabama
  • Mason Parris of Lawrenceburg, Ind., a 6-foot-2, 275-pound wrestler from the University of Michigan
  • Masai Russel of Potomac, Md., a 5-foot-5 track & field athlete from the University of Kentucky
  • Jon Seaton of Hillsborough, N.J., a 6-foot-1, 285-pound football player from Elon University
  • Joe Spivak of Lombard, Ill., a 6-foot, 300-pound football player from Northwestern University
  • Dalton Wagner of Spring Grove, Ill., a 6-foot-9, 330-pound football player from the University of Arkansas
  • Riley White of Hoover, Ala., a 5-foot-6 track & field athlete from the University of Alabama

Haley & Hanna Cavinder are also TikTok stars who have 3.8 million followers.

Olympic gold medalist wrestler Gable Steveson was the first-ever athlete to sign an NIL deal with WWE. He signed with WWE this September and is finishing his senior season at the University of Minnesota. Steveson was drafted to the Raw roster in October.