The18 and National Peanut Board's Hunt for America's 'Sleeper Striker'

The18 is on a mission to uncover America’s Sleeper Striker — the hidden talents on college campuses who may not play D1 soccer but definitely have the vertical and precision to turn heads.

This spring, that search launched at UMass, where The18 partnered with the National Peanut Board as part of its broader Health Nut Club campaign — a nationwide effort celebrating the role peanuts play in fueling healthy, active lifestyles.

Our contribution? The Fuel Zone: an action-packed soccer activation where students tested their vertical jump and striking accuracy on a giant inflatable soccer dartboard. Historically the best strikers in soccer have had the assets of pinpoint shooting accuracy as well as rising the highest in the penalty box. Every participant was added to a virtual leaderboard, sparking competition, laughs and campus-wide hype.

To raise the stakes, we awarded a TV to the top scorer and raffled off a second one in our Fuel Lounge — a chill hangout space playing The18 Originals and soccer content all day long. Participants also had the chance to win our exclusive Fuelbox — a custom-designed shoebox filled with peanut snacks and soccer-inspired merch.

Check Out the Grown in America Fuel Zone at UMass

Two Distinct Campaigns, One Shared Experience

This event represented the intersection of two complementary efforts:

1. The Health Nut Club, a National Peanut Board campaign that promotes the benefits of peanuts in the lives of health-conscious, active consumers.
2. The18’s Fueled by Peanuts campaign, which uses soccer culture, competition, and original content to show how peanuts power performance, play, and lifestyle.

While each campaign has its own focus and expression, both came to life at UMass in ways that reinforced the same core message: peanuts are the snack of choice for active, engaged students — whether they’re competing, chilling, or just living their campus life.

What’s Next:

This fall, we’re taking the Fuel Zone on the road to more college campuses this fall — continuing our hunt for the next Sleeper Striker and creating even more moments that showcase how peanuts fuel today’s student-athletes (and student-fans).