Auburn Football Stars, Spartan Alum To Host Camp At MBHS

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL — Some Auburn University football stars are hosting a camp at Mountain Brook High School July 31, thanks to a new ruling that allows players to profit from their name, image and likeness — and to a Mountain Brook High School alum.

Former Spartan Tanner Dean, who graduated in 2017, played for Auburn for four years and has used the recent NIL ruling for college athletes to help promote Princeps, which includes Auburn players Owen Pappoe, Bart Lester and Jake Levant.

The camp at MBHS will include current AU running back Shaun Shivers, quarterback TJ Finley and safety Smoke Monday as well.

"About a month ago two of my former teammates, Bart Lester and Jake Levant, came to me and Owen Pappoe with the idea of partnering with college athletes to put on youth camps," Dean said. "The four of us all felt we brought something unique to the table. I am the only non-current Auburn player; however, the knowledge I gained since graduating and starting my own business, Unconventional Design Solutions, has proven very useful in the creation of Princeps. Over the last month, we have collected the necessary business documents, negotiated insurance quotes, spoken with lawyers, and countless other tasks to plan the two upcoming camps."

Dean said the new NIL ruling will open several doors for current college athletes, although the grueling daily schedule of student-athletes when school starts still prevent student-athletes from activities like athletic camps.

"I think the NIL ruling will definitely encourage more interaction between players and the public," Dean said. "I am not convinced the ruling will result in a high number of youth camps partially because of the large amount of leg work that is required in planning a camp."

Dean added, "Being a college athlete is extremely time strenuous and the majority of athletes won't have the time to plan a camp. This is the main reason we felt so passionate about partnering with athletes to put on the camps. This way Princeps can focus on the dull task associated with running a camp and the athletes can prioritize the campers having a first-class experience above all else."

Anyone interested in attending the football camp in Mountain Brook or Montgomery can register on the Princeps website.