Rubicon Talent has signed three NFL draft prospects for marketing and off-field representation deals ahead of the NFL combine this week. Kentucky running back Benny Snell Jr., Mississippi State defensive end Montez Sweat, and Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler have joined forces with the marketing agency.
Sweat is ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect on Mel Kiper’s Big Board. Kiper has Butler rated at the No. 9 wide receiver and Snell Jr. as the No. 10 running back in the draft.
College GameDay profiled Snell Jr. a few months back and labeled him “the most interesting man in college football.” Snell Jr. has a tattoo across his abdomen with the words “Snell Yeah” and has used his last name to coin the phrase “Snellfies,” when taking photos with fans. Rubicon has already booked over six figures worth of appearance fees for Snell in Kentucky, according to Sports Business Journal.
Rubicon Talent was formed in 2017 by sports marketing veterans Dave Maryles, Peter Raskin, Jonathan Salant and Brandon Swibel. Rubicon Talent has a strategic partnership with SeventySix Capital, a sports tech venture capital company. Through SeventySix Capital, Rubicon’s clients have many opportunities beyond marketing and endorsement deals. Rubicon Talent is also the exclusive marketing agency for The Montag Group and its clients.
“We look for guys who are going to be Pro Bowl and better – elite NFL talent,” Maryles said to Sports Business Journal. “And more importantly, guys who get the rest. They want to really build their brand. They want to, maybe, get into broadcasting. They want to get into business ventures.”
Rubicon Talent boasts an NFL roster of Greg Olsen, Mark Ingram, Emmanuel Sanders, George Kittle amongst other athletes such as Olympians Kerri Walsh Jennings and Lolo Jones. Rubicon also represents MLB and NBA players and executives, broadcasters, and culinary artists.