Penn State's Chop Robinson Signs NIL Deal to Promote Pork Chops
Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson long ago grew out of his "Pork Chop" nickname. However, that nickname has led to an NIL opportunity today. Robinson recently signed a Name, Image and Likeness deal with the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council to help the organization promote, of course, pork chops.
How? According to a news release, Robinson will appear in a series of videos and other content to promote Pennsylvania pork products on the council's social media channels and other advertising platforms. The Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council announced the partnership the day before Penn State's game against Massachusetts. Robinson had two sacks in the Nittany Lions' 63-0 victory.
“Our partnership with Chop allows for a fun, engaging way to keep pork front of mind," Courtney Gray, executive director of the PPPC, said in a statement.
RELATED: Penn State's official NIL collective now has an official beer
Robinson, whose given name is Demeioun, told the story of his nickname earlier this year. He weighed 14 pounds when he was born, so his parents nicknamed him "Pork Chop." It fit early since, as Robinson said, he was a big kid with "no neck." But then Robinson grew out of the nickname — he was the tallest kid in elementary school and 6-1 by eighth grade — and eventually just shortened the nickname to Chop. Now, Robinson is a 6-3, 255-pound athlete who ran a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash and has built himself into one of the nation's strongest and most explosive edge rushers
A junior from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Robinson is in his second season with the Nittany Lions. He has three sacks and five tackles for loss, and his sack-fumble was among the highlights of Penn State's 31-0 victory over Iowa this season.
"Chop is a very coachable kid," Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes said before the season. "He will listen to everything you say and do his best to ask you. He’s that kid you don’t have to yell at. If he feels like he’s disappointing you, he’ll feel bad about it and try his best to be able to execute. He’s a kid who understands his flaws at times and he’ll work on those things before or after practice in the film room do whatever he needs to do to fix those flaws. He’s a conscientious, self-aware player."
According to the news release, the Pennsylvania Pork Producers Council works on behalf of nearly 3,000 state pig farmers to promote their products and conduct research and education programs.
More on Penn State
First Look: Penn State vs. Ohio State
Welcome to Penn State-Ohio State week
Penn State-UMass report card: The Lions tune up their tuneup
Penn State 63, UMass 0: Breakdown of another Beaver Stadium shutout
How Daequan Hardy made Penn State special teams history vs. UMass
James Franklin says scheduling comments were mischaracterized
Penn State's official NIL collective now has an official beer
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
