The NFL Draft is set to descend on Chicago this week bringing some future NFL stars to the Windy City as they get selected by one of 32 franchises in the league. As the official uniform sponsor of the NFL, Nike has released their newest football cleat and are giving some local students the first chance to try them.
Nike will host events each day leading up to and during the NFL Draft at their Nike+ location on Michigan Ave. as well as high school’s in the area. NFL prospects such as Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley and current Chicago Bear Jon Bostic will be on hand to talk to the students.
Here is a list of events:
- Tuesday: 4-5:30pm Simion High School 6-7:30pm Al Raby
- ATHLETE APPEARANCE: Melvin Gordon, rookie entering the draft, 4pm at Nike Chicago (669 N. Michigan Ave)
- Wednesday: 4-5:30pm Harper High School, 6-7:30pm North Lawndale College Prep
- ATHLETE APPEARANCE: Todd Gurley, rookie entering the draft 4pm for students then at 4:45pm open to the public at Nike Chicago
- Thursday: 4-5:30pm DRW College Prep, 6-7:30pm Butler College Prep
- ATHLETE APPEARANCE: Jon Bostic with the Chicago Bears at 5:30pm with students, 6:15pm open to the public at Nike Chicago (669 N. Michigan Ave)
- Friday: 4-5:30 Robeson High School, 6-7:30pm Lane Tech
- Saturday: 9-10:30am Walter Payton College Prep, 11-12pm Baker College Prep, 12:30-2pm Lincoln Park, 2-3:30pm Schurz High School
Now you might be wondering about the cleats. Right? Okay, well Nike is releasing three new cleats designed for NFL athletes and future stars like Marcus Mariota, Leonard Williams and Amari Cooper. Here’s a small look at each cleat:
The Nike Vapor Untouchable Cleat
The Nike Vapor Untouchable cleat, first unveiled during the College Football Playoffs in December 2014, fuels explosive, vertical speed on the field. Its sleek Flyknit upper delivers a tight yet flexible fit that adapts to the foot’s natural motion. The cleat was designed and tested first with the University of Oregon football team, and built for athletes who need all-out speed like Richard Sherman, Odell Beckham, Jr. and Marcus Mariota. The Nike Vapor Untouchable also leverages the power of sustainable innovation, continuing Nike’s commitment to delivering high-performance products with minimal environmental impact. Read more at Nike.
The Nike CJ Elite TD Cleat
Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Johnson helped design this cleat from Nike as it’s built for hybrid athletes like himself. The lightweight design provides maximum durability and strength to help your performance on the field.
The precise patterning of the new Flyweave upper reduces bulk while providing flexible and durable strength. The woven material also allows for advanced positioning of Flywire cables to help lock down the midfoot – offering exceptional containment much like a seatbelt or harness system. Extra thread has been added to areas such as the lateral forefoot to enable more forceful cuts, and removed from areas like the arch where it isn’t required. Working in concert with an injected TPU outsole, the Flyweave upper encourages 360-degree propulsion. Read more at Nike
The Nike LunarBeast Elite TD Cleat
This shoe is built for some of the strongest athletes on the field. We are talking about the guys in the trenches doing the dirty work as they chase down a quarterback or try to protect their quarterback. It provides protection on the feet in a nice lightweight design. More from Nike:
A proprioceptive collar allows full freedom of movement without sacrificing lateral ankle stability and support. Alongside a cushioned midsole, the plate gives the Nike LunarBeast Elite TD an innovative, powerful traction system with a tough, comfortable base to help athletes dominate point-of-contact battle.
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