The president’s granddaughter has already secured her first partnership despite not yet becoming a college athlete, having signed with a renowned energy drinks brand alongside some famous faces

Kai Trump has secured her first NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) partnership ahead of playing golf at the University of Miami next year after joining forces with energy drinks brand Accelerator Active Energy.

The 18-year-old aspiring golfer doesn’t begin her scholarship with the Hurricanes until 2026 but is already making the most of her popularity by linking up with the company, which is renowned for launching “The Livvy Fund” with former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne to support women’s college athletes.

Earlier this year, it emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump’s granddaughter could become one of the highest paid female athletes ever having developed a growing NIL stock since taking up golf. The teenager’s substantial social media following also significantly contributes to her valuation, as does her highly-popular YouTube channel.

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In January, Trump actually sealed an NIL deal with Dallas-based Leaf Trading Cards, which sells autographed cards for $200 a pack, but it would appear that her recent announcement involving Accelerator Active Energy has blown that out of the water.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Trump used a presidential-themed announcement to reveal her big news, in which she made a speech at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, telling all “fellow Americans and content creators” that she’s partnered and invested in Accelerator.

“My fellow Americans and content creators. After months of reflection, I made a decision. I’ll be running, no stepping into a new role,” Trump began. “One with great responsibilities and 100% natural caffeine. I’ve partnered with Accelerator. No sugar. No crash. Cheers.”

In the post’s caption, she added: “Not running for office… just running on Rocket Pop. Proud to partner with @drinkaccelerator — check out my favorite energy drink on Amazon and select retailers near you!”

In the comments section, the official Drink Accelerator account posted: “Welcome to the team, Kai”, while former college gymnastics champion Dunne wrote: “Welcome to the fam!!!”

Also on the energy drink’s roster as an equity partner is Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who has helped to highlight the drink’s key features, such as its natural caffeine, lack of added sugar and preservatives, in previous campaigns.

“It’s pretty cool, especially being partners with such great athletes and being up there with him,” Trump told FOX Business about what it’s like to be part of a star-studded team.

The aspiring golfer added how Accelerator is “so important to ensuring I stay focused and have extra energy when I’m in the gym, on the golf course, studying, traveling or as part of my daily routine.”

Trump’s arrival has been welcomed with open arms by Accelerator Active Energy CEO Andrew Wilkinson, who said in a statement: “Kai has a very busy schedule including golf, content creation, travel and much more and Accelerator is the perfect solution to providing her the sustained energy without sugar while she’s on the go.

“We are excited to see all she is going to accomplish in the years ahead as she becomes a leading voice in NIL and beyond.”

Perreault started to get a fresh look in front of the new coaching staff led by Mike Sullivan in New York’s three-day development camp from June 30-July 2.

But from their homework on him, it’s likely that they already know what he is capable of, and that they saw what Boston College coach Greg Brown saw in Perreault’s five-game NHL stint at the end of last season.

He didn’t look out of place. He wasn’t overwhelmed.

“I think one of the biggest things going from college to pro is the adjustment to the speed of the game, and it looked at least on TV (last season) that Gabe was processing at that speed, which is the hardest thing to adjust to,” Brown told NHL.com. “He was a brilliant high IQ player here (at BC) and you just wonder how long it will take to adjust, but he looked comfortable out there. It wasn’t too fast for him mentally. That’s a great sign for him going forward.”

To make it, though, Perreault has to show the Rangers he is physically ready too.

“The stuff that he has is the stuff that is hard to find, and really hard to teach,” Brown said. “If the Rangers felt he wasn’t ready it would just be those things, trying to get a little stronger and a little faster so you can be ready for the wear and tear of an NHL season.”

To that end, Perreault said his focus this summer has been on adding some weight to his 5-foot-11, 178-pound frame along with improving his skating. He realized the importance of physical strength and skating in his five-game run with the Rangers at the end of last season.

“You hear about it, but you don’t really know until you’re in it,” Perreault said. “I wouldn’t say it’s more than I expected, but you don’t really know until you’re part of it and you experience it.”

Provided Perreault can withstand the physical rigors, David Carle, the head coach at Denver University, explained why he would be able to excel quickly as a point-producer in the NHL.

Carle knows Perreault from coaching him in the past two IIHF World Junior Championships. Together, they helped the United States win gold both times.

“Gabe is very cerebral,” Carle told NHL.com. “His knack for being able to find open ice himself, get the puck to his teammates in open ice, anticipate and read offense with a great defensive stick as well, it’s really uncanny. He hasn’t been the biggest player coming up, so he’s had to do it in different ways and I think his sense is outstanding and really gives him a chance to be a difference maker at any level.”

The Rangers expect that from Perreault eventually.

It’s also reasonable to expect his experience at the end of last season, and the summer skates with Kane and others, are enough to put Perreault on a fast track to the NHL, giving him an advantage going into training camp, potentially enough to turn him into an NHL player by Oct. 7.

“Now he can understand what the expectations are and what the League demands,” New York director of player development Jed Ortmeyer said. “I think it adds a little extra motivation and working harder. He’s definitely doing that.”

Johnny Manziel believes he would have put the NFL off longer if Name, Image, and Likeness had been available during his career at Texas A&M.

Manziel declared for the 2014 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season with the Aggies. He went on to sign a four-year, $8.2 million rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns, who selected the polarizing quarterback with the 22nd overall pick.

Dubbed “Johnny Football,” Manziel believes he would have stood to earn considerably more in NIL over his final two years of eligibility than going to the NFL.

After becoming the first-ever freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, the Manning Award and the Davey O’Brien Award while throwing for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns as a freshman, Manziel threw for 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns the next season.

“I tell people this all the time, and they asked me this, I really feel like I would have taken a pay cut had I gone to the NFL,” Manziel said on Always College Football, per On3.com. “I mean, that’s really what it would have been. I mean, it is crazy times that we’re living, and I think, you know, in a lot of areas, still figuring out exactly how to make it work the right way, where it’s not just the biggest boosters and the richest schools. If you look at A&M, you know, I feel like we’ve put a ton of money in it to our NIL, and it hasn’t necessarily translated onto the field.

“So, you know, I feel guys who are playing at a high level, who are really noticeable and really marketable, are making a great amount of money off the field, to the point where guys have the opportunity to stay in school rather than having to go to the NFL early.”

Following two controversy-laden seasons, Manziel was released by the Browns and did not throw another pass in the NFL. After being out of football for two years, he played for Hamilton and Montreal in the Canadian Football League in 2018 and spent time with the AAF’s Memphis express in 2019.

Manziel later played two seasons in the Fan Controlled Football League from 2021-22.

–Field Level Media

July 15, 2025

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by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@chn-adam-wodon)

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Penn State

Penn State’s spotlight brightened after it made the Frozen Four last season for the first time. It’s going to be even hotter now after Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NHL Draft, decided to take his talents to State College for the coming season.

Knowing players like this are “one-and-done” has not deterred the likes of Michigan, Boston University and Boston College from taking them. It was just one year ago that BU’s Macklin Celebrini went No. 1 overall. BU lost in the Frozen Four semifinals that year. This past season, the Terriers defeated Penn State in the national semis, before losing to Western Michigan in the title game.

Penn State has taken additional advantage of the new rules allowing former Major Junior players to participate in the NCAA, bringing in numerous key players beyond just McKenna. Jackson Smith, a first-round defenseman, is also on board, as are a few others of note. That will push some players down the lineup, and others who have been committed for a while, may never wind up at Penn State.

“You’re talking about team and player management, but that’s something this staff has talked a lot about,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said Tuesday. “We’re excited and eager to tackle those challenges. Those are great challenges to have.

“There’s a lot of changes going on in college athletics, especially in NCAA hockey. We want to embrace those changes and do what you can for the best of our program. As long as you have your values on straight, everybody understands that. We’re absolutely going to take advantage of the new rules and changes to recruit the very best student-athlete that fits Penn State. But that doesn’t mean we’ll switch our philosophy.”

“It boils down to, do everything for the team. For those guys who have those attitudes, you don’t just do that one year and check the box that you’re done. Culture is really important. Some people think it’s a buzzword but it’s really important. We learned a lot of lessons in the past and specifically last year that makes us feel confident to embrace the challenges. The leadership group will have a lot of work to do. They’re largely responsible for the success last year, and I suspect will be responsible for the success this season.”

Another thing that has changed in college hockey is the ability for players to earn money. Gadowsky understandably didn’t want to address that aspect of it at all, though it’s been reported McKenna will make $700,000 in his NIL/revenue-share deal, by far more than anyone else in college hockey.

McKenna has yet to speak in depth on the reasons for choosing Penn State, but Gadowsky said it was about many things.

“He’s done well in the CHL, I think he’s looking for a new challenge,” Gadowsky said.

“It’s the same for every hockey player that we bring in. A lot of things make Penn State hockey attractive. How we develop players, our facilities, our personnel, the philosophy of our administration, the support of the student body … a lot of things.”

He added that his staff didn’t reach out until his junior season was over and he started to explore NCAA opportunities.

“We feel really good about what Penn State has to offer any student-athlete,” Gadowsky said. “This is a huge thing for Penn State and Penn State hockey — and a huge thing for college hockey as well. So you’re nervous until it’s done. But once it was on Sportscenter and done, you felt good. And I’m pumped for the Penn Staters to watch this guy.

“He’s very humble and extremely polite. He has excellent manners. His mind always goes first to the whole, to the team, the atmosphere of the team. That’s how he is.”

Gadowsky said that every player, even someone of McKenna’s caliber, will have a transition to college hockey. After piling up points in the WHL last season for Medicine Hat, if history is any indication, playing against bigger, older players will translate to lower point output. A 60-point season would be great, and in line with other recent high-end one-and-done players.

“It’s not just to college hockey, it’s a transition to college, albeit an exciting and fun one to State College,” Gadowsky said. “We have good people. They’re looking forward to helping him navigate it. We can be a little patient. We can’t expect anyone to just come in and pick things up. It takes some time, I think it’s something he’s lookng forward to.”

But mainly, Gadowsky wants to get out of McKenna’s way on the ice.

“I was fortunate enough to grow up watching Wayne Gretzky play, and the one thing that makes him so special is that he’s so creative. He’s very different. There’s no way that I or anyone else on our staff thinks like Gavin does. He’s a very special, special, special athlete that thinks differently. By no means am I going to talk to him about how his mind creates. And that goes for all of our athletes as well. Part of what makes Penn State hockey fun is we encourage creativity.”

Gadowsky has been there since the beginning of Penn State hockey 14 years ago, helping see the original vision through. He said he is grateful for all that has gone along with the ride, all the people that helped along the way, and embraces the expectations that will be ahead.

“Penn State has very high expectations of all its athletic programs and puts a lot of resources into that,” Gadowksy said. “So that’s not like it’s a new thing. We did not have these expectations when you start from a club program. I can tell you it’s better to have those expectations than not.”

In these wild news times in college hockey, it’s mid-July and rosters aren’t still necessarily set. There are players recently drafted who still may get pushed to play NCAA for one year, and will be looking for teams, like perhaps Michael Misa or Porter Martone, or others. Some of them may want to see if they make the NHL roster first, but NHL training camp is not until September, well after admissions deadlines, typically.

It may be a bit difficult to make it work in some cases, but Gadowsky, while not naming names in particular, didn’t rule anything out.

“It’s always fluid because of eligibility, injuries, et cetera,” Gadowsky said. “I don’t think it’s fair to say we’re absolutely done or not done, because there’s too many factors that can happen. … It’s something we think about every day.”