Just glancing from afar, one might think the orange gloves worn by Tyner sophomore Dion Edwards when he’s making plays on both sides of the ball for the Rams on Friday nights are a nod to a certain Southeastern Conference football team just up the road on Interstate 75.
While the Tennessee Volunteers are among the college programs hard after Edwards’ superb talent, despite just turning 15 years old in July, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver and defensive back is actually wearing Phenom Elite gloves as part of a name, image and likeness deal he signed with the football gear brand.
Edwards and Baylor School junior running back David Gabriel Georges, a five-star prospect, are two notable athletes from Chattanooga programs who have signed NIL deals with Phenom.
“I am really humbled by all the attention early into my high school career,” Edwards said. “I grew up playing in the Tyner youth football program, and to be where I am now is pretty amazing to see. I always wanted to play for Tyner. We have some of the best players in the state on our team.”
Edwards already has offers from nine NCAA Division I programs: Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Liberty, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.