Skincare company Starface tapped Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, a top NFL draft pick, as its first male athlete influencer. 

The partnership is one of the latest examples of brands taking advantage of the NIL ruling that passed last July, giving college athletes the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image, and likeness. The “cool” factor, and strong social media followings, of top athletes is a huge draw for brands in reaching a wide audience, specifically men, in some cases. See Talkspace’s ad with Michael Phelps, LeBron James for meditation app Calm, or Rob Gronkowski for telehealth company Hims.

Starface, which is known for its bright yellow packaging and pimple patches, Hydro-stars, also touts athletes like Michigan gymnast Sierra Brooks, LSU gymnast Elena Arenas, UCLA soccer player Kaila Novak, and Maryland basketball player Lavender Briggs, as partners. Thibodeaux is the first male athlete to work with the brand. 

“We believe young people of all genders and identities are affected by unrealistic beauty standards and stigmas, and we’re excited to partner with an athlete who is deeply connected to youth culture and an advocate for self-acceptance,” Kara Brothers, Starface's president, said in a statement. “Our goal is to destigmatize and alleviate some of the difficulties of being a young person today (acne included) and we think Kayvon is the perfect person to help bring our message to life.”

Thibodeaux has also worked with DirecTV, FTX, Fiverr and United Airlines.