Pizza Party? FAMU linebacker Isaiah Land's NIL with Hungry Howie's holds major implications
Florida A&M linebacker Isaiah Land has become a household name in black college football and the city of Tallahassee for his disruptive and stymying play for the Dark Cloud Defense.
As name, image, likeness (NIL) deals emerge for collegiate student-athletes, the former Buck Buchanan Award winner has successfully maneuvered monetizing himself.
Therefore, he's signed an NIL deal with the Tallahassee's chains of Hungry Howie's Pizza.
"I'm grateful that he came here," Hungry Howie's general manager David Lopez said. "It makes me happy thinking about it and I actually couldn't sleep for the past two days.
"I hope (Land) makes it big."
Land is a regular at Hungry Howie's. He says that he eats there after every home game and go-to order is a large pepperoni pizza with cinnamon crust.
This is his second NIL deal in the last two months, represented by agent Jeffrey Anderson. In September, Land partnered with Atlanta-based black-owned fintech platform, Ready Life, co-founded by Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"It feels good, especially being a player from a HBCU and FAMU in particular to get recognized and be able to get the same opportunities as some of the kids at bigger schools," Land said.
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Hungry Howie's offers a sweet deal if Land gets a sack in FAMU's home finale
Land is best known for his pass rushing ability that helped earn him the 2021 FCS Defensive Player of the Year powered by 19.5 sacks.
This season, he has five total sacks and had a pair in FAMU's homecoming game victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 27-6.
If Land records a sack in the Rattlers' (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) regular season home finale against Southern (5-3, 3-2 SWAC) on Saturday (5-3, 3-2 SWAC), Hungry Howie's will offer its 'One Sack Special' on Sunday, Nov. 6.
This will give customers the chance to get 50 percent off all-regularly priced items in the exclusive online offer.
"I feel like I'm spreading the love if I get a sack," Land said. "I'm trying to give everybody a good deal to come get some pizza."
The deal will be valid at all Hungry Howie's locations in Tallahassee.
Game Information
Who: Florida A&M (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) vs. Southern (5-3, 3-2 SWAC)
When: Saturday, at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Bragg Memorial Stadium
Broadcast/Radio: ESPN3, Rattler Sports Network
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Isaiah Land signs local NIL deal with Hungry Howie's Pizza