2 Penn State athletes are ready to rumble with the WWE after signing NIL deals
Penn State athletes from the football and wrestling program are now part of World Wrestling Entertainment’s name, image and likeness program.
WWE has signed Penn State offensive lineman Nick Dawkins and wrestler Greg Kerkvliet (285). The two Nittany Lions will receive a tryout for the world’s largest wrestling promotion, along with an opportunity to sign with the company or an extended tryout.
Dawkins is a sophomore and listed at 6-4, 315 pounds and played in two games on offense and special teams in a redshirt season in 2022. Kerkvliet, a junior, is a two-time All-American in the 285-pound weight class, placing seventh in 2021 and fourth in 2022. He currently holds a 49-8 record.
A number of former football players and collegiate wrestlers have joined the business in the past, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Miami Hurricanes), Maryland football’s Dean “Mojo Rawley” Muhtadi, former Atlanta Falcon Bill Goldberg, Clarion wrestling’s Kurt Angle, Missouri Valley College’s Bobby Lashley and Minnesota wrestling’s Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin, among others.
Dawkins’ father, Darryl, played in the NBA for 14 years and served as a guest judge for a boxing match between Mr. T and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania II.
In addition to Dawkins and Kervliet, Georgia softball’s Jaiden Fields has received an NIL deal from WWE. She is the sister of Chicago Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields.
