Toledo Football's DeMeer Blankumsee Puts Cincinnati On His Back Thanks To Wooter Apparel

Last June when the NCAA announced their NIL program was approved, Toledo true freshman and Rockets’ wide receiver DeMeer Blankumsee quickly put pencil to paper and created a customized apparel collection with the help of Wooter Apparel.

Spring isn’t just about baseball these days. It’s also about hard work and leaving your mark on the football field.

For college athletes like DeMeer Blankumsee with the University of Toledo, this is the time of the offseason where long hours and weekly practices at Fetterman Training Center are heavily invested in hopes of paying dividends come the fall and the start of the 2022 season in the Mid-American Conference. It’s all part of his maturation on the gridiron that began by leading his high school team to the OHSAA Division II State Championship Game berth in 2017 followed by a semifinal appearance in 2018. Four years later, the journey continues.

Coming off a 2021 season where Toledo went 7-6, DeMeer was a regular in the receiving rotation and finished his true freshman year by appearing in 12 games with 16 receptions, totaled 267 yards and scored two touchdowns in a year highlighted by a four reception game against the University of Massachusetts. Following the end of the college football season and into winter workouts, the focus this spring has been about preparing to keep growing on and off of the field heading into his sophomore season, with DeMeer and the Rockets holding an open scrimmage in the Glass Bowl on Friday, April 9. 

One thing is for certain this spring. Wherever DeMeer goes on the field, he’ll have his entire city of Cincinnati on his back.

Last June when the NCAA announced the chance for college athletes to earn income by partnering with companies on their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), DeMeer was one of the first student-athletes to reach out to Wooter Apparel about teaming-up on his own clothing line. The communications major eagerly shared his concept designs and the meaning behind each of his apparel renderings. Each sketch was his own. A custom look. A quality feel. And thanks to working with an in-house graphic designer at Wooter, it was an opportunity for DeMeer to create something to honor his city. Weeks later, DeMeer Blankumsee and Wooter Apparel launched his DB17 clothing line for the Fall with the collection of personally designed hoodies, shirts, shorts, and backpacks in navy and gold school colors becoming a consistent seller in the NIL brand category for Wooter.  

DeMeer recently took a break from spring football practices in Toledo to look back on collaborating with Wooter and what it means to leave his own mark on the customized sports apparel game.  

The custom made apparel from DeMeer and Wooter includes a mixture of logo designs that honor his 513 area code and those people close to him in the “HEY Gang!”.

When did you start thinking about designing and launching your own apparel line? 

About my junior year of high school at Winton Woods in Cincinnati, Ohio I knew I would want something along these lines, so this was even before Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) was even available. Everyone loves how the clothing fits, the feedback has been fantastic.

How would you describe your experience working with Wooter Apparel from coming up with the sketches of the apparel and starting an online store? 

Great, I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done up until this point. They brought my ideas to life and were patient with me throughout everything. I am getting the chance to partner with someone that can work together without making the process hard. It’s been an easy fit. 

Your DB17 clothing line with Wooter Apparel truly is a reflection of you, complete with your own likeness and shout out to the "HEY Gang" from growing up in Cincinnati. Why was it important to incorporate where you came from into your brand?

At times Cincinnati has been in the dark and there’s so much talent hidden. Anything I can do to try and get others noticed I will do without question. I’m just glad Wooter is willing to show the love that’s needed. Through this process I have learned that there are people out there in the world who care about your success and it doesn’t always have to be someone close to you for them to show it and take notice.

What can we expect next from you with this collection heading into summer and the fall?

I should be changing my number this season, so I am working on some edits and designs and drawing them up. My year is going to be crazy.