BYU Cougars Sponsor Offers To Pay Tuition For Walk-On Football Players

Walk-on members of BYU's football team will now have the opportunity to have their tuition paid for, reported ESPN. BYU athletic department has helped to broker opportunities for the team members to be able to sign endorsement deals with a sponsor. Those deals would cover tuition for at least a year.

These kinds of deals are now possible due to a rule change by the NCAA. College athletes can now earn money "from their names, images, and likenesses."

Built Brands, the protein bar company, has offered to sponsor the entire BYU football team. Students on scholarship can receive $1,000 for representing the company. The walk-on players were offered the equivalent of privately-funded scholarships, although they will be paid directly and can spend the money any way they want.

Associate Athletic Director Gary Veron said, "We're trying to put BYU on the map for all the right reasons. We knew this would be exciting to be kind of the first ones to the dance in this area."

Head Coach Kalani Sitake said, "I love these boys and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be partnering with a company that is equally committed to assisting BYU football in building a culture of love and learning while enhancing the experience for all players."