ROLLING WITH THE ROOKIES PRESENTED BY HYUNDAI GIVES FANS AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT THE ROAD TO THE NFL

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 25, 2017 – The life-long journey to the NFL is on the verge of being completed for the prospects who will be selected this week at the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia. This year, Hyundai’s multi-faceted Draft program, Rolling with the Rookies, is going beyond 40-yard dash times and bench press repetitions to profile four rookies in an original content series that highlights the people, places and experiences that shaped their journeys.

Hyundai partnered with four future NFL rookies who are all projected to be taken in the first round in various mock drafts – Mitchell Trubisky, O.J. Howard, Mike Williams and Haason Reddick. During the lead-up to the draft, Hyundai filmed the prospects in their hometowns and talked with the people that helped make their dreams a reality, capturing their unique stories, from pee-wee football to high school through college. As part of the film, each player worked with famed cleat designer Marcus Rivero, aka SolesBySir, to design a custom vehicle wrap for a Hyundai Santa Fe, visually bringing their story to life.

“The NFL Draft is where it all begins for the league’s future stars, and we wanted to give fans a better and more immersive experience by telling the incredible stories of these four top prospects,” said Dean Evans, CMO, Hyundai Motor America. “These players exemplify the power of hard work and perseverance through adversity in making their NFL dreams a reality, and it was compelling to see their stories represented in each Santa Fe wrap.”

On the ground in Philadelphia, the NFL will welcome the newest members to its family from April 27-29, and Hyundai will have a Rolling with the Rookies activation inside the NFL Draft Experience. This will include the four custom designed Santa Fes, as well as interactive exhibits highlighting footage and memorabilia from each player’s life. In addition, Hyundai is also the presenting sponsor of Selection Square, which is home to the 32 team Draft tables and the location of Rounds 4-7.

Hyundai Rookie Prospects

  • Mitchell Trubisky – From the University of North Carolina, Mitchell is the top QB prospect available and comes from an incredibly supportive family that has seen him go from Mr. Ohio Football in 2012 to a projected 1st Round Pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. https://youtu.be/X5gkGlVx79A
  • O.J. Howard –The top tight end in the draft and one of the best tight ends in Crimson Tide history, O.J. Howard started games in all four of his seasons at Alabama, along with winning a national championship in 2015 and being named the Offensive MVP of the game. https://youtu.be/6xbo_GgEMgU
  • Mike Williams – Persevered to overcome a broken bone in his neck to win a national championship with Clemson this past season and was named first-team All-ACC as a top receiver, catching 94 passes for 1,361 yards and 11 TDs, while putting up several highlight-reel plays. https://youtu.be/xhiVXiHY-dQ
  • Haason Reddick – A former running back and safety walk-on at Temple, Haason grew up outside of Philadelphia and worked himself into one of the top linebackers in the draft. https://youtu.be/SJnJd_sNz3g

The mini-documentaries and all of the content for Rolling with the Rookies presented by Hyundai can be found at Hyundaiusa.com/NFL, on Hyundai’s YouTube channel and at HyundaiNews.com.

Hyundai is entering its third season as an official NFL sponsor and the league’s official car and SUV. It also has relationships with six teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. Hyundai’s 2017 NFL Draft content and activation is managed by Advantage.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile fully-transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.