The South Carolina Gamecocks are entering a new era in their athletics program. Effective July 1, the Gamecocks are officially sponsored for uniforms and apparel by Nike. The move is truly the end of an era, as South Carolina had its apparel deal with Under Armour dating back to 2007.
But now that Nike is now sponsoring the school, the apparel and shoe giant has hand-picked five Gamecocks athletes for their new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL deals. Included in the NIL deals include football's LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart and women's basketball's Joyce Edwards and Chloe Kitts.
Per Nike's official release, its Blue Ribbon NIL program "reimagines the NIL space by providing leading athletes and universities an unmatched level of collaboration that prioritizes the future of sport and athlete identity." Here's more about the program as a whole, via Nike:
"The Blue Ribbon Elite program, named after Nike’s humble beginnings, reflects the brand‘s long-held leading position in sport, college and NIL partnership, as well as an enduring commitment to making athletes better — from pioneering the first truly comprehensive “all-sports” partnership in the 1980s to today’s creative, career-building collaborations with top NIL athletes."
Welcome Home, @Nike. pic.twitter.com/DltNnyqDVI
— South Carolina Gamecocks (@GamecocksOnline) July 1, 2026
“I’m excited to be one of South Carolina’s first Nike Blue Ribbon Elite athletes," Gamecock star forward said via the official release. Being part of Gamecock women’s basketball has given me a platform to create amazing partnerships, and this is another chance to partner with the best. Nike is an iconic brand that is globally known for making the best basketball footwear and apparel, and I can’t wait to get to see what we can do together.”
Nike's NIL deal with Sellers, Stewart and Harbor had been previously announced, but there were little details as to the specifics of what the deal entailed were unknown. Kudos to Nike on also capatilizing on some of the Gamecocks' biggest stars on the women's basketball side too. Kitts missed the entirety of South Carolina's 2025-26 season that ended in a trip to the national championship due to a torn ACL injury she suffered in October 2025. But as a junior in 2024-25, she averaged 10.2 points per game with 7.7 rebounds. Edwards led the Gamecocks in scoring this past season, averaging 19.2 points per game.
Sellers being one of the first athletes to get an NIL deal with Nike is a no-brainer. He is the face of South Carolina's football program entering 2026, and is expected to have a big season in new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles' scheme.
Harbor is his leading receiver, coming off a career-high 30 receptions for 618 yards and six touchdowns. Stewart is South Carolina's unquestioned leader on defense, having accounted for 56 career tackles with 22.5 for loss, including 11 career sacks during his two seasons with the Gamecocks.
Congrats to all five athletes on inking their new NIL deals with Nike. The South Carolina-Nike partnership is off to a flying start, it seems.
ALSO READ: South Carolina's Dylan Stewart named to Walter Camp preseason All-American team
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