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Today’s Case

USC receiver Tahj Washington partners with salsa brand to give back to USC food pantry

Who would have thought that dancing on the football field would benefit a good cause?

Through a new partnership with salsa and sauce brand LA Victoria, every time USC receiver Tahj Washington does his salsa dance when he has a big play, 16 pounds of food will go to the Trojan food pantry. The pantry addresses food insecurity on campus and provides temporary relief to those experiencing food emergencies.

A salsa brand that’s been a staple in LA for over 100 years, LA Victoria is working with Washington to bring food awareness and support the diversity of LA. He will also be showing off his cooking skills in social media posts, infusing his Southern style of cooking with Spanish-inspired meals.

A passionate cook, much of his time in NIL has been spent working with brands in the cooking space, whether it be putting on his picnic for his hometown or working with Chef Merito Seasonings.

The partnership was facilitated by Jaster Athletes.

The Verdict

• Tying on-field activities to off-field benefits is amazing

  • Even doing a salsa dance for as little as one second provides an opportunity to feed numerous people and help solve the food insecurity dilemma.

  • More brands and athletes should be doing NIL deals with community service tie-ins, as it’s a win-win for everyone involved (and most importantly the recipients of the donations/products/etc.)

• Athletes should tap into their personal interests outside of sports for NIL partnerships.

  • As noted, Washington is an avid cook and has secured other food-related deals.

  • Athletes should leverage their interests for brand collaborations, as it’s easier to create content for a company or product they regularly use and are passionate about.

• Let’s go to the stat line

  • This season to date, Washington has 47 receptions for 915 yards and 6 touchdowns.

    • Even if he only did a salsa dance after every touchdown, that is 96 pounds of food donated to the Trojan food pantry so far this season. And he still has a few games left season to show off his dance moves and benefit a good cause.

Long term > short term

Student-athletes doing NIL deals should focus on building long-term relationships with brands. Watch this video for more!

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