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FAMU football's Isaiah Land signs NIL with Ready Life to educate him on home ownership
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- FAMU football's Isaiah Land signs NIL with Ready Life to educate him on home ownership
Isaiah Land is making history on and off the field at Florida A&M .
The heralded Rattlers linebacker has signed an NIL with black-owned fintech startup, Ready Life.
Land, an AP All-American and the reigning FCS Defensive Player of the Year , announced the partnership via Twitter on Sept. 23.
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While awaiting to regain his NCAA certification , Ready Life was on standby to extend the opportunity to Land and his NIL agent, Jeff Anderson, to become the company's first NIL partnership.
"I was very excited and honored about being in a partnership with Ready Life, a black-owned business that helps people with home ownership," Land said. "I have to thank them because they were patient while my eligibility issue was being cleared up.
"When I was reinstated, my agent and Ready Life were there to get the deal done."
NIL deals have offered the opportunity for incoming and current collegiate athletes to earn revenue from their name, image, and likeness since being implemented by the NCAA on July 1, 2021.
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Ready Life was co-founded by Bernice A. King, daughter of civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ashley D. Bell.
"We know how important it is to support our own and we also understand the significance of working with HBCUs — where incredible talent is nurtured," Bell said. "We also know that a player like Isaiah is required to bring his 'A-game' and there's no time for working additional jobs.
"We believe in Isaiah and we are proud to come alongside and provide support for him to play the game he loves without the distraction of wondering how he'll pay his bills or buy groceries."
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What is Ready Life? How does it help Land?
Ready Life's corporate office is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, with most of its operations in Atlanta, Georgia.
It specializes in helping aspiring homeowners to secure property without the necessity of credit scores.
The deal hits close to home for Land.
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He spent his high school years near Atlanta while playing football and attending school less than an hour away at Grayson High School in Loganville.
With Ready Life's assistance, Land, 22, has the goal of purchasing his first home at age 24 as he chases his NFL aspirations.
Land ranks No. 1 on ESPN's top 50 2023 HBCU NFL Draft prospects after leading the all of Division I in sacks with 19 during the 2021 season.
"Ready Life's founders being from Atlanta is really cool because that is where I spent my high school years," he said.
"Representing a black-owned brand that helps us own homes is important because the traditional way of owning a home with credit scores isn't the only way to judge someone's worthiness."
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Ready Life had a chance to watch Land on the field as it was a presenting sponsor of the 2022 Orange Blossom Classic . The company offers financial literacy to accelerate the process of young people becoming homeowners and educating them to invest in assets that appreciate in value over time.
"Isaiah is the top defender in both the Football Championship Subdivision and the Southwestern Athletic Conference and his story also aligns with the mission of Ready Life," Bell said
"We offer a product that Isaiah's family could have used years ago. We are working with Isaiah to help educate individuals on how Ready Life creates a new path to homeownership and helping them understand they are more than a credit score. They can purchase a home and begin creating generational wealth by focusing on their everyday spending habits.
"We look forward to an impactful relationship with a young, hardworking football player who truly understands the mission of Ready Life and can stand behind it while we also stand behind him."
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FAMU coach Willie Simmons is thrilled for Land,.
"He's well-deserving and it further illustrates that one can accomplish all of their goals here just like they can anywhere else," Simmons said.
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Game Information
Who: Florida A&M (2-2, 1-1 SWAC) vs. Mississippi Valley State (0-4, 0-1 SWAC)
When: Saturday, at 6 p.m.
Where: Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
Broadcast/Radio: Rattler Sports Network
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Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Isaiah Land learning about home ownership with Ready Life NIL
