Perhaps a new class of athletes can capitalize on name, image, and likeness deals: former meme stars.
For years, Dieunerst Collin has been the face of one of the most recognizable internet memes — he’s become known as the “Popeyes meme kid” for a viral video of him as a kid looking shocked and annoyed in a Popeyes restaurant.
But now, Collin is a freshman offensive lineman at Lake Erie College, a Division II program. The New Orleans-style food chain has tracked Collin down and signed him to an NIL deal.
“I didn’t know the internet was like that,” he said on an Instagram live. “Now I know to never doubt the internet.”
It appears Collin caught the attention of Popeyes on his own.
On Jan. 8, he posted on social media that he went from the Popeyes meme kid to a high school football state champion, as he was part of the East Orange High School team that won the New Jersey state title in 2021.
Collin launched a social campaign of sorts, asking Popeyes to recognize him on Instagram and Twitter. He even help from major accounts like Bleacher Report.
On the evening of Jan. 10, Popeyes’ Twitter account reposted him, saying, “Let’s get this bread(ing)” — signaling they had signed a deal.
For the second time in his life, Collin has gone viral. But for the first time, he’s getting paid for it.
