South Carolina Football: 5-star Gamecock freshman Nyck Harbor pays homage to Bo Jackson with new NIL trading card deal

The NIL era of college football is in full swing, and keeping up with all of the news surrounding “the new normal” of the sport can be challenging. However, there is something gratifying for fans to see their favorite players being rewarded financially for their hard work. South Carolina football players like Spencer Rattler and Juice Wells are some of the bigger SEC names to benefit from NIL.

In just his first month or so being enrolled in Columbia, though, true freshman Nyck Harbor seems poised to join that group in short order. The former 5-star athlete hasn’t played a game yet but has been in the news a lot over the past few weeks for his NIL opportunities.

Harbor has signed deals with Beats by Dre headphones, Ovation for Men Sport cologne, Champ Sports apparel, and Hugo Boss clothier this summer.

On Friday, it was announced that Harbor also had inked his first trading card deal with TruCreator trading cards. Harbor’s deal was negotiated by Park Avenue Sports in conjunction with the ESM sports marketing agency.

Harbor’s card plays on his dual-sport status as the South Carolina football wide receiver is wearing shoulder pads with track cleats around his neck. The Olympic hopeful’s card seems to be paying homage to the old Bo Jackson “Bo Knows” ad campaign in which the dual-sport star wore pads and held a baseball bat on his shoulders. Apparently, “Nyck Knows” good marketing ideas.

South Carolina football fans cannot wait to see how Harbor is utilized by Shane Beamer and his coaching staff this fall, and this trading card drop is only increasing the hype and anticipation surrounding Harbor’s debut against North Carolina in week 1. With College GameDay in attendance, could there be something special in place for Harbor in his first game?

No one outside of the South Carolina football program knows how big of a role Harbor will play in 2023. The Gamecocks return lots of experience in the receiver room, but the highest-rated prospect in the 2023 recruiting class is a special talent who will force his way on the field in some capacity.

Breathe, Gamecock fans. There are still 36 days before South Carolina football.

So close, yet so far.

Until then, you can watch some of his film here.