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Oregon State's Jesse Legree, Braden Atkinson join Nike's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program
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- Oregon State's Jesse Legree, Braden Atkinson join Nike's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program
Braden Atkinson Jesse Legree
Oregon State star quarterback Braden Atkinson and superstar wide receiver Jesse Legree have joined NIKE's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, NIKE and Oregon Stateannounced on Monday. In addition, the two parties announced an extension of their long-standing relationship.
Per the release , Blue Ribbon Elite represents a broad portfolio of athletes across disciplines, reimagining the NIL space by providing leading athletes and universities an unmatched level of collaboration that prioritizes the future of sport and athlete identity.
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Atkinson and Legree have emerged as two of the biggest breakout stars of the 2026 college football season. Atkinson currently leads the FBS in passing yards (2,977) and passing touchdowns (25), while Legree leads the FBS in receiving yards (1,110) and receiving touchdowns (14).
"The opportunity for Braden and Jesse to be a part of Nike's Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program is exceptional and an incredible benefit of our relationship," Oregon StateVice President and Director of Athletics Kevin Griffinsaid, via the release.
"Nike is woven into the fabric of this state, and Oregon Stateis proud to be a big part of that story. Our shared Oregon roots make this partnership special, and this extension will serve our student-athletes well as our programs continue to strive for success in the Pac-12 and nationwide."
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Coming off a 2-10 season in 2025, Oregon Statehas surpassed all expectations under first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard . The Beavers even began to accrue College Football Playoff aspirations after winning five consecutive games after dropping their first two games of the season, but those were all but dashed by Fresno State over the weekend.
Jesse Legree, Braden Atkinson discuss joining Nike Blue Ribbon Elite NIL
In late October, Legree held a press conference, where he announced that he'd be returning to Oregon Statefor the 2027 season. It was speculated that many top FBS P4 programs would attempt to poach the star freshman this offseason, but that will not be the case.
"Joining Blue Ribbon Elite is a dream come true, and I get to do it representing Oregon State," Legree said. "I fell in love with this culture, and it's only going to grow from here. Having Nike in my corner pushes me to work harder every week. We're building something big in Corvallis, and I'm proud to be part of it."
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Atkinson, who transferred to Oregon Statefrom Mercer this offseason, has blossomed into a superstar as well. With three regular season games remaining, Atkinson has already poured in the 10th-most passing yards in a season by a Beaver QB.
"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. "I'm grateful for the people who got me here, including my family, my coaches and my teammates. Getting to represent Oregon Statealongside a brand with this much history in the state is something I don't take for granted. I'm excited to see what we can do together."
