Report: Nike reaches deals with Mariota, Winston, three other top prospects

By
Plexus Groupe,

By
Plexus Groupe

Published April 17, 2015 04:10 PM

FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2014, file photo, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston warms up before an NCAA college football game against Florida in Tallahassee, Fla. When Marcus Mariota and second-seeded Oregon face Winston and third-seeded Florida State in the the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 it will be the third time Heisman Trophy winners have met in a postseason game. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

If it’s draft season, then it’s time for apparel companies to strike deals with some of the top incoming NFL prospects.

According to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Nike has signed Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Georgia running back Todd Gurley, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon to endorsement contracts.

News of the Nike deal with Winston comes as he faces a civil lawsuit regarding a sexual assault allegation levied by a Florida State student in 2012. Winston was never charged criminally in connection with the allegation.

“Jameis has stated his innocence regarding serious charges made against him. We’ll continue to monitor the situation,” a Nike spokesperson told ESPN.com.

Winston, Mariota, Gurley and Cooper played for schools that sported Nike-branded uniforms. Gordon, meanwhile, wore an Adidas-branded uniform at Wisconsin.