WWE Announces First Class Of Collegiate NIL Signees

WWE has revealed the identities of 15 college athlete who will make up the initial class of talent signed to WWE’s new Name, Image, and Likeness program. WWE has christened the program “Next In Line.”

Thirteen universities from seven NCAA conferences and four sports comprise the demographics of the class. The fifteen new NIL signees join Gable Steveson as the first to enter the program, according to WWE.com. Under new NCAA rules, student athletes are allowed to receive compensation for the use of their name, image, and likeness for the first time ever.

The list of new NIL athletes being brought in by WWE is available below:

• 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

The new program was announced just last week by WWE. Athletes who join the program will receive access to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. They’ll also receive support for brand building, media, and communications training as well as live event and community relations training. Athletes who successfully complete the program are not guaranteed a long-term role with WWE. Only those who standout will receive that honor.