University of Colorado football recruit Jeremy Bloom's Olympic career might keep him out of pads for a second consecutive season.

The 19-year-old, who was a highly touted star wide receiver on his high school state championship squad in Colorado, signed an endorsement deal on Monday with Tommy Hilfiger to promote its fall 2002 line. NCAA bylaws stipulate that future student-athletes can endorse products and receive compensation as long as the athlete is not receiving money once he or she begins intercollegiate competition.

Bloom has recently made a name for himself as a freestyle skier. After not playing last season to focus exclusively on skiing, Bloom made the U.S. Olympic Ski Team and placed ninth in the moguls at the Olympics and won the moguls overall World Cup title on Saturday.

Last month, Bloom requested that he receive a waiver that would allow him to put his endorsement money in a trust because freestyle skiing is not an NCAA sport. The NCAA denied his request.

Enrolled athletes can receive money for other professional sports, such as minor league baseball, as long as the income earned is made in salary only, confirmed Jane Jankowski, a spokeswoman for the NCAA. Collegiate athletes cannot be used in any advertising or accept endorsements while playing those sports. But Olympians generally don't receive a salary, although the U.S. ski team paid for Bloom's expenses.

Bloom already has endorsements with Oakley sunglasses and DynaStar skis but would also have to give up those deals if he wanted to play.

Bloom hasn't necessarily given up his future on the gridiron. If he is no longer featured in Hilfiger promotions and is no longer earning income off the deal, he can come back to the university, where football coach Gary Barnett has promised that a full scholarship would be waiting for him. Bloom's agent Andy Carroll could not be reached for comment.

As of Monday afternoon, the Colorado coaches knew that the endorsement offer was on the table but weren't sure if Bloom was going to take it, said sports information director David Plati.

Bloom will be promoting Tommy Jeans in print advertisements for the clothing company, according to a news release.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at Darren.rovell@espn.com.