PLUM(B)MERS | Tom Drexler's NIL deal with UofL Quarterback Jack Plummer adds up

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's quarterback and Tom Drexler have something in common.

They're both plum(b)mers.

One drains pipes. The other drains defenses.

"Given my last name, it's something that, when NIL came out, I thought it would be a good idea to partner with a plumbing company," Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer said.

"We're like 'Duh,' how did we not already think of that as soon as we knew he was coming?" Drexler said.

Drexler, the plumber and businessman behind Tom Drexler Plumbing, heard of the idea to do a Name, Image and Likeness deal with the Cards quarterback with "PLUMMER" on the back of his jersey. His last name. It made too much sense.

"He's just really a stellar guy, laid back and fun to work with," Drexler said.

Last week, thanks to the NIL deal facilitated by the University of Louisville's official collective, 502 Circle, a billboard went up that features "the best plum(b)mers in town."

Jack Plummer and Tom Drexler are pictured together on the billboard advertisement for the plumbing company.

"It's kind of a surreal thing," Plummer said. "You grow up and you don't think you'll ever be someone whose face is on a billboard. So it was really cool."

Just a few days after the billboard went up, Plummer had a near perfect passer rating. He finds himself the No. 6-rated passer in college football (with a rating of 189.77). Only two quarterbacks — Michael Penix of Washington and Caleb Williams of USC — have more than his 11.5 yards per attempt. He ranks in the top 20 nationally in yards per game and touchdown passes.

"Five touchdowns last week didn't hurt either," Drexler added.

The billboard precedes a commercial that's set to air soon through the rest of the football season. Plummer will be featured alongside Drexler for some sort of plumbing advertisement. The skit is being kept a "secret" for now.

502 Circle said this is a "key" deal for the collective.

"We're kind of that middle man," 502 Circle President Dan Furman said. "We're just that resource of knowledge for both sides."

Drexler and 502 Circle made this deal happen for Plummer. 502 Circle is committed to doing the same for other athletes, and Drexler said it's likely the plumbing company will work on other NIL deals, too.

"As you continue to expand the NIL space, you can pay one price to the collective and make a contribution to the collective and work with multiple athletes instead of it being an ala carte type of menu," Furman said.

Furman called it a win-win for athletes and local businesses.

For Plummer, it's all still surreal.

"On the playground, people asking, 'Is your dad a plumber?'" the senior recalled people poking fun of his names. "Just stuff like that. 'Are you going to be a plumber when you grow up?' ... The last name is paying off now."

Related Stories: