7 March 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita State’s name, image and likeness collective has been rebranded to the Wheat Shock Collective and has a new manager.
A news release from the collective says Blueprint Sports, which manages 26 different schools’ NIL collectives, launched the new collective for Shocker student-athletes on Thursday.
Blueprint’s website shows it manages schools like Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado, Penn State, UCLA and others in addition to Wichita State.
The news release says Wheat Shock Collective is rebranded from Armchair Strategies, the first NIL collective at Wichita State, effective immediately.
“We’re excited to see Wichita State student-athletes benefit from the additional support that Wheat Shock Collective will provide,” said Kevin Saal, director of athletics at Wichita State University, in a news release. “We all know how important NIL is in today’s landscape, so having an organization that’s dedicated to their NIL success and to connecting them with the Wichita community is critical.”
Saal said in the release they are asking 5,000 members of Shockers nation to give an annual gift of $500. He said these resources will equip both Wheat Shock Collective and Shocker Athletics in the recruitment, development and retention of elite-level talent.
Under current NCAA guidelines, member institutions like Wichita State are now allowed to facilitate NIL deals between student athletes and businesses. Blueprint Sports serves as the middlemen in the industry.
Blueprint Sports was founded in July 2022 as the BPS Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission to “educate, encourage and assist student-athletes in their efforts to engage with the local community through charitable causes.”
Wheat Shock Collective members will gain exclusive access to content, events, merchandise and more. Additionally, the collective will also accept tax-deductible donations through a partnership with the BPS Foundation, a national 501c3 organization, and corporate sponsorship options for businesses looking to partner with student-athletes to promote a product or service.
For more information, you can visit Wheat Shock Collective’s website by clicking here.