Best of NIL this year
A Thanksgiving tradition: the annual J-Academy NIL awards. I’ve looked at daily summations of NIL deals since July so you don’t have to (you’re welcome, Jon Lovitz voice). The hours watching bland ads, wooden performances, and miscast parts…. but these are the BEST.
Best newcomer in a Comedy Performance.
In a bold move, Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson did not show up until the second reel (about 12 in). Despite a linebacker’s signature glare, KJ Jefferson is a QB but fired the football like one tough QB. I’d say the best pro comp would be Terence Howard (from Hustle and Flow), He’s fierce but with layers, and has a promising future.
Like most great NIL ads, there is a reveal of the true nature of the ad only in the third act, as the orthodontist saves the day. True to a great comedy, it has a moral but is not preachy or overdone. A solid three stars for the performance and the NIL. You can click the link and view it below; leave your review and suggestions below.
KJ Jefferson
Westrock Keeping Up With KJ | NIL Deal With KJ Jefferson Commercial https://t.co/LDnnu2xxT9 via @YouTube
— The Pillar (@MrArk10) September 24, 2022
Best Supporting Actor in a NIL
DeColdest Crawford (I’ve mentioned him here before.) Nebraska (winter commercial)
Decoldest came into this awards season with a lot of hype. His premiere effort was solid but unremarkable. His follow-up, though, fulfilled the promise of even DeColdest believers. DeColdest was surrounded by a troupe of able performers. The little girl with the plaintive concerns about the room temperature was riveting.
W.C. Fields was the one famously credited with” Don’t act with children or dogs”. But DeColdest stepped in, hit his mark, and brought the cool. The mother and daughter were impressed, but not in a fawning way. It was a short (30 seconds by this critics watch) performance but effective. The J-ACademy awards the 2022 best Supporting actor to DeColdest Crawford, Univ of Nebraska.
@CollegeGameDay @ESPNCFB @ESPN_Schick @CFBONFOX @barstoolsports @_willcompton @PatMcAfeeShow @JoeKinseyexp
— SOS Heating & Cooling (@SOSHVACOmaha) October 10, 2022
Best Pro comp: Wesley Snipes. A reliable sidekick, who can make a passable leading man on occasion. He carries the scene but leans heavily on the leading man dentist. A solid start, maybe next year he’ll be in the Best Actor category.
Best Actor in a NIL
Stetson Bennett has a name built for the cinema. Pro comp: probably Jon Hamm from Baby Driver. But putting him in a city, almost an industrial setting, seemed like a NIL risk: But during the season an incident made a reference to him as “the Mailman” because he always delivered. So in the performance, Stetson showed up without invitation and is describing “delivering”. The potential renters who trail him are mesmerized (as is the audience) by the promise of delivery.
Not since “The Music Man”; incredibly some 70 years ago – has a performer led a group on such a journey. For his groundbreaking debut, the J-Allen Best Actor goes to Stetson Bennett.
This commercial from Pointe Grand apartments is the good side of NIL. The Mail Man @StetsonIv puts on a masterclass pic.twitter.com/Yc5m59PmFo
— Baxter Street Boys (@baxstboys) August 30, 2022
If you enjoyed the NIL super-serious analysis, you can read my twice-monthly posts here, here, here, and here.
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