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UNC Football: Tar Heel defender taking advantage of new NIL rules

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 10: Tony Grimes #20 of North Carolina poses for the camera before a game between Virginia Tech and North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - OCTOBER 10: Tony Grimes #20 of North Carolina poses for the camera before a game between Virginia Tech and North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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A UNC football star is taking advantage of the NCAA’s new rules on NIL

Tony Grimes is one of the best defensive players in the nation, and he’s just a year removed from graduating high school. The former 5-star recruit and Virginia Beach native has quickly become one of the most popular names in college football. That’s after an impressive freshman campaign that now has him on a number of preseason lists, including the ACC’s all-conference team.

Grimes begins the 2021-22 season as one of the leaders on a North Carolina defense that lost its best player from a season ago, first team All-ACC linebacker Chazz Surratt. The Tar Heels will need Grimes to step up in year two in order to compete for ACC supremacy — something that a number of college football pundits believe they can do. And while he projects to do just that, and has been working hard to make it happen, he’s doing something a little different on the side this summer.

The UNC standout spent a few hours last weekend selling T-shirts, posing for photos and signing autographs at Franklin Street’s Chapel Hill Sportswear. That’s all thanks to the NCAA’s new NIL rules (name, image and likeness) allowing student-athletes to benefit financially while they’re still in college.

"“It doesn’t feel weird but it’s a shocker,” Grimes told ABC11. “Like I don’t have to ask permission to do anything from the school anymore. I could call my dad and we could set things up and that’s how it is.”"

The sophomore cornerback was a popular draw during his public appearance, reportedly bringing in more than 200 fans a half-hour prior the the event’s noon start time. Grimes’ TG-20 brand shirts quickly sold out, with all of the profits going directly to him. Grimes even granted one fan’s request to autograph his forehead.

Grimes and the Tar Heels will begin their season in Blacksburg, Virginia on Friday, September 3 for a matchup with the Hokies.

5-star UNC recruit back on campus. dark. Next

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Tony Grimes and the UNC football program.

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