Braden Atkinson Joins Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Roster

Braden Atkinson for NIKE

Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson has signed with Nike as one of two Beavers added to Blue Ribbon Elite, Nike’s new NIL program for college athletes.

November 2026 · AiC Newsroom

On Nov. 2, Nike and Oregon State announced an extension of their partnership through 2031. Nike remains Oregon State’s supplier of uniforms, footwear, apparel and equipment. As part of the announcement, Nike added Atkinson and wide receiver Jesse Legree to its Blue Ribbon Elite roster.

“Being part of Blue Ribbon Elite is an honor, and it means even more because Nike’s roots are right here in Oregon,” Atkinson said.

What Blue Ribbon Elite is

Nike calls Blue Ribbon Elite a “first-of-its-kind initiative” that offers “an unmatched level of collaboration” with leading athletes and universities. The name refers to Nike’s beginnings. The program gives athletes individual support in performance, training and media.

“The opportunity for Braden and Jesse to be a part of Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program is exceptional,” said Kevin Griffin, Oregon State’s vice president and director of athletics.

Ann Miller, Nike’s EVP of Global Sports Marketing, pointed to “a special history between Nike and Oregon State, built over more than three decades together.”

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The season behind the signing

At the time of the announcement, Atkinson led the nation with 2,977 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He is a national candidate for the award given to the year’s top quarterback.

  • 5 touchdown passes in a 52–17 win over Montana (Sept. 19). He also ran for a score.

  • A big passing day with Legree in a 56–26 win in the Pac-12 opener (Oct. 3)

  • 5 touchdown passes again in a win over San Diego State (Oct. 10)

  • Led a 48–30 win over Washington State (Oct. 17)

Atkinson and Legree are one of the most productive quarterback–receiver pairs in the country. Legree leads the nation with 1,110 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 53 catches.

How he got here

Atkinson is from Raleigh, N.C., and played at Rolesville High School. As a senior there, he threw for 3,925 yards and 53 touchdowns.

At Mercer in 2025, he became the starter as a true freshman after two games. He went 9–2 and set school single-season records for passing yards, touchdowns, attempts and completions, including a school-record 538 yards against VMI. He finished with 3,611 yards and 34 touchdowns and won:

  • The Jerry Rice Award

  • SoCon Freshman of the Year

  • Second-team All-SoCon

He transferred to Oregon State in January 2026 and won the starting job.

Why it matters

Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite deal pairs national brand recognition with support for his performance, training and media. For an athlete, a partnership like this is also a contract: deliverables, exclusivity, the length of the deal and how his name and likeness can be used. Those terms matter as much as the name on the logo.

Keep reading

Follow the campaign. Atkinson’s Heisman campaign is live. Get the official 2 DAM GOOD tee and share the story.
Visit 2damgood.com →

Get the facts every Monday. The Dotted Line covers what happens before and after signing: NIL, revenue sharing and the transfer portal, for athletes and families.
Subscribe to The Dotted Line →

Have an offer in front of you? Download the free NIL Contract Checklist before you sign anything.
Get Before You Sign →

Sources: