Utah Football’s Britain Covey Using His NIL For Good With Bridle Up Hope

PASADENA, Calif. – The only thing longer than Britain Covey’s impressive punt-returns this year may be the length of his college career. 

 Britain Covey first took the field as a freshman in 2015.  

After taking two years off to serve a church mission, Covey returned to the U ready to play again in 2018. An injury at the end of the season had him red-shirting the next.

Thanks to the shortened 2020 season due to COVID – he earned another year of eligibility. And even now, if he wasn’t declaring for the NFL draft, he could still play another year for the U.

Through all of it – Covey’s been under the old NCAA rules regarding his name, image and likeness. Until this final season.

While he’s had plenty of offers for endorsements – Covey’s first choice of what to put his name behind – hits very close to home.

Suicide is something that is often misunderstood, taboo and frightening to talk about. It’s effects have had a very personal impact on my life. I’m partnering with the Bridle Up Hope Foundation to help fight this battle ❤️https://t.co/eJvv0j10Qt

— Britain Covey (@brit_covey2) November 17, 2021

“He gave me a call and just said ‘you know, I’m getting all these requests for doing different things from Taco Bell to this or that,”‘ Britain’s uncle Sean Covey. “But I want to do it for something meaningful and purposeful.”

“I always thought it would be really cool to see athletes use their name, image and likeness for good not just to get money, endorse companies,” said Britain Covey. “But to endorse charities or causes to promote things like that. So, that’s why I chose Bridle Up Hope.”

“We started Bridle Up Hope in honor of my daughter, Rachel, who we lost about eight years ago,” Sean Covey said.

The loss of Britain Covey’s cousin in 2012 inspired the family to start the Rachel Covey Foundation and with it, the Bridle Up Hope program with one goal in mind.

“It’s all about helping young women that are struggling with depression, anxiety, abuse, trauma, these are real big issues right now,” said Sean Covey. “There seem to be getting worse and COVID hasn’t helped. And now there has social media. And so we’re here to help with that. We help improve lives, and turnaround lives and change lives through horses and habits.”

The 14-week program incorporates the Covey family’s world-renowned –“7 habits of highly effective people” with learning to ride and care for a horse. A past-time loved by Rachel.

“There’s something about a girl on a horse,” Sean Covey said. “It’s just unbelievable. There’s magic there. When you put a girl on a horse, they forget about their phones, they forget about social media, they’re on a horse. It’s a great big object lesson that has empathy, because horses can feel what you’re feeling and you’re getting back into nature and just does wonders for young women.”

Since it’s founding, Bridle Up Hope has grown from a single Equestrian center in Alpine, to soon – six locations in four different countries with plans for even more.

And in his short-time since signing on in support – interest has spiked.

“I think Bridle Up Hope signed up at least 10 girls from our video,” said Britain Covey.

Covey’s support won’t end with his Utah career. He has big plans to continue to do good.

“Even as I leave college this next year, I’m going to try and create something to help athletes partner with some cause that they care about because everybody has something,” Britain Covey said. “There is something that every cares about and has dealt with. So I hope that I can inspire other athletes to partner with those types of things.”

“That’s what’s so special about it to me,” Britain Covey added. “To be able to attach my name to something that is so important to my family and it’s such a big impact on my family. It’s been great.”

You can learn more at BridleUpHope.org.