Howard University football has teamed up with lifestyle eyewear brand Clear Eye View Collection for a collaboration that blends fashion, focus and the legacy of the Mecca.
The partnership, launched with the Bluford Limited Edition sunglasses, expands visibility for historically Black college and university athletes. It gives Howard players a platform to be seen not only as athletes but as ambassadors of culture and leadership, helping elevate HBCU talent and stories to a broader national audience.
CEV Collection co-founder Jamal Robinson said the partnership grew from shared values and a mutual commitment to highlighting excellence.
“Everything that Howard has stood for really aligned with our brand DNA,” Robinson said. “We wanted to tap into and celebrate that level of excellence within the student body.”
Founded in 2018 by Robinson and former NFL linebacker Jaylon Smith, CEV was built to promote focused vision, determined belief and earned dreams. The brand aims to inspire confidence and highlight cultural storytelling. Each pair of glasses is named after a Black visionary or cultural landmark, including the Bluford frames, which honor Guion Bluford, the first African American astronaut in space.
The timing of the partnership comes as HBCUs increasingly leverage NIL deals and brand collaborations to build athlete-driven opportunities and amplify student-athlete visibility.
These deals not only provide financial benefits, but also offer real-world experience in branding, marketing and entrepreneurship. For Robinson, integrating Howard students into the project was intentional.
“The student-athletes and social media and communications teams were very involved,” Robinson said. “Kedrick Green from the football team was very integral throughout the process. They helped shape design, marketing and even how we activated the launch.”
Junior defensive back Kedrick Green said the partnership represents pride and responsibility.
“Every time I wear that logo, I am representing not just our team but the entire legacy of the university,” said Green, a sports management major. “Partnering with a major brand reminds me that people are watching, and it is about showing what student-athletes at HBCUs can achieve on and off the field.”
Graduate wide receiver Breylin Smith said the project gives athletes space to show their versatility.
“CEV gives us a platform to build our personal brands and tell our stories,” Smith said, a master’s student in social work. “The shades represent confidence, culture and the tradition of excellence that came before us.”
Smith hopes future designs continue to spotlight Howard’s heritage while letting athletes express individuality.
“I want designs that celebrate Howard’s pride and resilience,” Smith said. “It is about carrying that story forward.”
The Bluford Limited frames, in Howard blue and red with the engraving “From Vision Comes Legacy,” gained traction during Homecoming week, Oct. 19-26.
Robinson said the collaboration serves as a blueprint for other HBCUs and Black-owned businesses.
“If another company sees this and says, ‘Maybe we should look at that too,’ then we have done our job,” Robinson said.
Beyond the product itself, Robinson said eyewear plays a unique role in confidence and personal presentation.
“Eyewear is more than an accessory,” Robinson said. “When you put those glasses on, it is a confidence boost. It is a reminder that you have arrived. Accessories like these are an opportunity to communicate who you are without saying a word.”
Robinson said it is just the beginning of a long-term plan to develop similar initiatives with Howard and other schools, giving students and athletes exposure to real-world professional experiences while showcasing their talent on a national stage.
The collaboration involved student-athlete participation and a Black-owned business, showing Howard’s role as both a cultural and academic institution and the ways HBCUs engage in innovation, entrepreneurship and branding.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
