Oregon State star Damien Martinez named ambassador for OBS Lifestyle Brand
Published: 1.10.2023
By Jeremy Crabtree | On3NIL
Thanks to a NIL deal facilitated by Dam Nation Collective, Oregon State standout running back Damien Martinez is the first collegiate student-athlete brand ambassador for OBS Lifestyle Brand.
The collective said the partnership between OBS and Dam Nation is “multilayered” and will also provide other NIL opportunities for Beaver student-athletes.
OBS co-founder Steven Jackson is one of the most accomplished athletes in OSU history. He is also an ambassador for Dam Nation, the preferred NIL collective at Oregon State. Additionally, as part of the collaboration, OBS will design and manufacture Dam Nation merchandise exclusively for collective members.
“OBS strives to inspire those who see challenges as opportunities and personal triumphs as loudspeakers to encourage others to never give up,” Jackson said in a release. “A collaboration with Dam Nation allows for our message to be transformed into apparel and fashion, helping to project inspiring stories to be shared by OSU student-athletes.”
OBS Lifestyle says it has a boutique partnership approach in representing unique and niche brands in three key areas – beauty, fashion and accessories and food and beverages. The company has numerous hoodies, crewnecks, T-shirts, headwear and long-sleeve shirts for sale on its website.
“I am very blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to work with OSU legend Steven Jackson, and I am honored to be named brand ambassador for OBS,” Martinez said in the statement. “I have an affinity for the brand’s mission and believe student-athletes understand that overcoming tough times is part of the journey to becoming great.”
Growing NIL program key to retaining Damien Martinez
After a historic freshman season at Oregon State, there was some concern Damien Martinez would enter the Transfer Portal. But insiders believe part of why he stuck around in Corvallis was because of the way the Dam Nation Collective stepped up with its push for player retention.
Martinez – the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year – initially signed a NIL partnership with the collective on Dec. 15. The new deal is another sign of what type of NIL opportunities can be created at Oregon State.
Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith told The Oregonian in mid-December he’s aware of what’s at stake with Martinez when it comes to roster retention.
“I think he’s pretty happy here,” Smith said. “But that’s the day and age of college football now that you’ve got to be aware of. We try to make it as good for him as possible here, and I think he appreciates how we operate.”
Martinez is a former On3 Consensus three-star recruit out of Lewisville (Texas) High School. Martinez rushed for 982 yards and seven scores in the 2022 season. But he came on late in the year with six 100-plus yard games over the Beavers’ final seven. He has an On3 NIL Valuation of $28,000.
More deals with OBS on the way for OSU athletes
While Damien Martinez is the first Beaver athlete to sign with OBS, Dam Nation leaders plan rapid expansion. This includes players in sports beyond football.
“From the very first conversations around creating Dam Nation, inclusivity of all OSU student-athletes has been a top priority,” Dam Nation co-founder Dick Oldfield said.
“We are working on expanding this innovative partnership to more OSU student-athletes as we speak.”