Four-star California high school quarterback Brady Smigiel is taking an untraditional approach with his new name, image and likeness (NIL) deal: The money goes straight into an investment account.
Smigiel and Four Arm Fund announced the deal on March 18 in a press release stating that the firm will place the money directly into an investment account, which it will manage through a combination of investments, including stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrency, and commodities.
The company confirmed this is a five-figure NIL deal through its public relations partner.
“Our relationship with Brady Smigiel exemplifies the Four Arm Fund mission, bringing innovative models and financial management structures to elite-student athletes interested in planning their future,” Kevin Logan, Managing Partner at Four Arm Fund, said in a statement. "We are excited to work with Brady on investment and business opportunities that extend beyond the game.”
The company stated there will be a minimum age of 21 before he can withdraw funds. Smigiel turned 18 in October, according to the Ventura County Star.
“For me, it's always been about the game. My focus is on becoming the best — that’s the main goal. The money will come with it; if I can set myself up for success later in life, I'm all in," Smigiel said in a statement.
Smigiel, who was at one time a Florida State commit, currently has 33 offers and has listed a top four of Michigan, South Carolina, UCLA and Washington, according to On3. He's listed on the 247Sports Composite as the No. 11 quarterback in the class of 2026 and 67th-best player overall.
FSU Lands a Huge Commitment from Top-5 QB in the 2026 Class, Brady Smigiel (6-5, 205).
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) June 22, 2024
Racked up 7,701 Passing Yards and 98 Touchdowns as a Freshman and Sophomore.
Maxpreps Freshman All-American
Maxpreps Sophomore All-Americanpic.twitter.com/djisIJfRHA
The 6-foot-5 talent has posted elite numbers since he stepped on the field as a freshman, throwing for 3,479 yards, 46 touchdowns and 11 interceptions his first year, 4,222 yards, 52 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as a sophomore and 3,521 yards, 49 touchdowns and just three INTs as a junior. He has a career completion percentage of 62.8%.
Smigiel has been voted Offensive Player of the Year by Ventura County coaches in back-to-back seasons and is the first QB in the county to pass for more than 10,000 yards, according to the VC Star. He led Newbury Park to the Southern Section Division 2 championship this year, as the team ran through the season undefeated before suffering its lone loss in the CIF State Football Championship tournament.
The Panthers, with Brady's father Joe and twin brother Beau also on the team, will look to carry this success into the 2025 season. Brady said in the statement that he did not plan on having NIL opportunities be a distraction.
"This deal with Four Arm Fund allows me to invest in my future on and off the field, without getting distracted by anything right now," he said.
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