The World of NIL
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The world of NIL has turned college athletics on its head. Whereas under-the-table payments to players had been looked at as cheating, now it’s a legal part of the institution — where players can theoretically make as much as they want when competing on the amateur level. This piece will look at some of the most highly-paid college athletes and their respective NIL packages.
*Note: All NIL Valuation numbers come courtesy of On3 NIL unless otherwise specifiedÂ
25. QB Kyle McCord (Syracuse): $857,000
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When with Ohio State, quarterback Kyle McCord enjoyed multiple NIL deals with clothing brand Rhoback and Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet. One estimate had McCord raking in over 850k. However, now with McCord in Syracuse, we don’t know what sort of money he could be making in New York. Odds are he’s being taken care of in some way. The answers to these questions will likely come as we get closer to the start of the season.
24. Julian Lewis (Committed to USC): $1 Million
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Julian Lewis out of Carrolton, Ga. is considered to be one of the best prep quarterbacks in the class of 2025. He’s currently committed verbally to the University of Southern California — though the likes of Georgia and Colorado (among others) are also charging hard for his services. Lewis is a terrific athlete with very good arm strength and a natural charisma to boot. He’s one of those guys looking like a lock to come in and play right away.
23. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU): $1 Million
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With Jayden Daniels off to the NFL, the QB job down in the Bayou likely will be held by Nussmeier. The son of current Philadelphia Eagles QB coach Doug, Garrett was a very talented prep quarterback in Texas before inking with the Tigers. As you can see, there’s no shortage of funding from the powerful donors in Baton Rouge and across the entire state of Louisiana. Nussmeier should be able to succeed this upcoming year considering the skill talent on the roster, as well as the tutelage he’ll receive from Brian Kelly.
22. Robert Dillingham (Kentucky): $1 Million
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The freshman guard took advantage of his standing as an elite high school recruit. Kentucky and its deep pockets came calling — with Dillingham eventually coming on board. As the season progressed, Dillingham became one of Kentucky’s most indispensable players. With the season now over courtesy of an upset loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Oakland, Dillingham likely will set his eyes on the 2024 NBA Draft. Most projected him to be a first-round pick later this year.
21. Cooper Flagg (Signed With Duke): $1.1 Million
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According to many people, Cooper Flagg will be the next big thing in college basketball. The No. 1 player for his class, the Maine native decided to spurn UConn in favor of Duke. In what will likely be his only college season next year, Flagg is projected to be a top draft pick when he’s eligible. With a player of his magnitude, it’s no surprise Duke was able to nab him. The school has some of the wealthiest (and most active) donors in the country. As such, Flagg will be more than taken care of when in college.
20. Shilo Sanders (Colorado): $1.1 Million
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Being the son of Deion Sanders certainly has its perks. While brother Shedeur certainly commands more in the way of attention (more on that later), Shilo is a very good player in his own right. Taking after his dad, Sanders plays at Colorado as a defensive back. Few within the Pac-12 this past year were as physical as Sanders was. Considering the publicity ‘Prime Time’ has brought to Boulder and the university, it’s no surprise to learn that everyone within the family is making a pretty penny in the NIL universe.
19. Brady Cook (Missouri): $1.1 Million
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Those who support Mizzou wanted to thank Brady Cook for his strong effort last year as the team’s starting quarterback. He helped to lead the Tigers to a Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. As we head into the 2024-25 College Football season, Cook is not only one of the better-returning QBs in the SEC, he’s one of the best quarterbacks entering this year…period. In fact, some think Missouri is a sneaky-good bet to win the SEC East this upcoming season.
18. Jared McCain (Duke): $1.1 Million
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McCain began his journey in making money before he even stepped foot on campus in Durham. A native of Southern California, McCain’s popularity grew considerably on social media. In total, McCain has nearly three million people following him over multiple social media accounts. This includes two million on TikTok and over 750k on Instagram alone. After a strong year with Duke, McCain’s persona will grow even further.
17. Flau’jae Johnson (LSU): $1.1 Million
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Johnson is making some serious coin with the Bayou Bengals. Her popularity on social media is also quite immense. When combining Instagram and TikTok, Johnson has more than three million followers. Only a sophomore, she could one day become the face of college basketball in the way Caitlin Clark and fellow teammate Angel Reese showcased the past two years.
16. Hansel Emmanuel (Austin Peay): $1.2 Million
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You wouldn’t think that a player from Austin Peay would be a massive hit on social media. Well, Emmanuel is smashing the proverbial game right now. He has over 4 million followers across multiple platforms — including 2.7 million followers on TikTok. Emmanuel plays college basketball with only one arm. Even then, he can dunk and be a very dangerous hooper. Emmanuel played in 30 games for the Governors this year, averaging 1.9 PPG.
15. Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee): $1.2 Million
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The famed QB prospect out of Los Angeles spurned local schools in favor of heading South. Along with that, Iamaleava was reportedly given a very nice NIL package which was spread out over multiple years. The talent is there for Iamaleava to be quite good. Even then, like most prospects, there’s no such thing as a sure thing. It puts Tennessee’s decision into perspective even further when ushering the multi-millions to a guy who had yet to take a snap in college.
14. Bryce James — $1.2 Million
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If you’re a basketball-playing son of LeBron James and you live in Los Angeles, you’ll surely be given plenty of opportunities to make money. it’s the case with Bryce, the younger of the James boys who is currently playing in high school. The 6’6″ wing is uncommitted at this time. With that said, there are millions on pins and needles waiting to see where he ends up. The thought of James playing back in the family’s native Ohio with the Buckeyes would be a wonderful story.
13. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon): $1.3 Million
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Oregon’s stellar offseason involved poaching Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel. With Bo Nix graduating, it only made sense for the Ducks to target an efficient, athletic, strong-armed signal-caller. Gabriel, a native of Hawaii, will surely love heading back to the West Coast. He’ll have plenty of talent to throw to this upcoming year, and there’s a real chance the Ducks will be the favorites to win the Big Ten in their inaugural season within the conference.
12. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): $1.4 Million
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Since coming over from USC, Dart has been a legitimate dual-threat QB for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. The Utah native has a very strong arm — and plays the game with zero fear. He sometimes puts himself in compromising positions. With that said, the chemistry between himself and Kiffin is immense. The head coach knows exactly what calls to execute when utilizing the talents of his player. It’s no surprise Dart has an NIL valuation among the best in all of the sport heading into this year. Ole Miss has the look of a true title contender.
11. Evan Stewart (Oregon): $1.4 Million
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The former elite prep prospect out of Texas had a quiet couple of years in College Station with the Aggies. Upon hitting the portal, a host of schools came after him. Unsurprisingly, the Nike machine that is Oregon won out. With Froy Franklin headed to the NFL, Stewart can come in right away and start from the jump at one of the perimeter spots. With his combination of speed and athleticism, coupled with Gabriel’s ability to throw the ball deep, Stewart may emerge as one of the better receivers in college football.
10. Carson Beck (Georgia): $1.5 Million
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When you’re the starting quarterback on the best team in the country, you’ll be doing pretty well in terms of NIL. In this case, Beck is said to be valued at $1.5 million. He played well for the Bulldogs last year all things considered. Beck wasn’t even projected to be the automatic first-string quarterback last Spring — though he worked immensely hard to get to where he is today. With another good year, Beck could develop into a high draft choice.
9. Jalen Milroe (Alabama): $1.6 Million
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Milroe is a highly gifted athlete. He throws the ball with terrific velocity, and he resembles a young Vince Young when running the football. Milroe at times was criticized by the fan base for not being overly accurate or polished. At the same time, this is the starting quarterback at the University of Alabama. He’d start for over 95 percent of teams across the country. Another year in Tuscaloosa should do wonders for Milroe’s potential draft stock.
8. Angel Reese (LSU): $1.8 Million
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Reese was the most well-known women’s college basketball player not named Caitlin Clark this past season. Her big personality makes her a favorite on multiple social media platforms. Reese has accrued millions of followers on both TikTok and Instagram. On the court, her length and quickness make her a very tough matchup to stop. Reese gets to her spots on the floor with ease, and is tremendous when attacking mismatches.
7. Quinn Ewers (Texas): $1.9 Million
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The flagship school of Texas — where football reigns supreme — will surely have some players rolling in the dough. Texas ironically has two players in the same position doing just that (more on Arch Manning later). In terms of Ewers, he’s at the forefront of college football in terms of NIL valuation. He’s a very good quarterback, and he plays for a school with some deep-pocketed donors.
6. Travis Hunter (Colorado): $2.4 Million
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Hunter has proven to be the most dynamic player in all of college football. Dating back to the days of Charles Woodson, we’ve not seen another player so dominant on both sides of the ball. The combination of marketing by Colorado, coupled with the Deion Sanders factor, has led Hunter to cash in on his immense talent. With probably one more year in college, Hunter truly has sky-high potential based on the tools he brings to the table.
5. Arch Manning (Texas): $2.8 Million
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The surname ‘Manning’ is football royalty. The grandson of Archie, Arch is currently the backup signal-caller at Texas. The combination of the school’s brand along with the profile of his family caters to the fact that Arch is a top-five athlete in terms of NIL valuation. This number should go even higher when he eventually takes over the starting spot once Quinn Ewers graduates.
4. Caitlin Clark (Iowa): $3.1 Million
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Caitlin Clark has taken things to a totally different stratosphere. She was the FACE of College Basketball — whether it’s women’s or men’s — in 2024. Everyone wants to know when Clark plays. She’s ruthless, fearless, and fiery when converting on shots all over the court. Her unique ability to score under any circumstance has WNBA squads cowering in fear over what they’ll eventually have to face. Clark’s profile has risen even more over the past few months. She’s even featured as a main player in national commercials.
3. Livvy Dunne (LSU): $3.6 Million
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Livvy Dunne is everywhere. She’s firmly embedded herself into the fabric of pop culture. People who don’t watch college sports at all even know who the LSU athlete is. To put into perspective how impressive her reach is, Dunne has over 5 million followers on Instagram and roughly 8 million on TikTok. The endorsements and opportunities to make money will not slow down any time soon. In May, Dunne signed a multi-million NIL deal with Passes.
2. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado): $4.7 Million
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Watching a football game at Colorado this past year was a scene. Ex-NFL players and celebrities alike would traverse out to Colorado to watch Shedeur and the Buffaloes play. Shedeur’s suave persona further highlights the immense talent he brings as a quarterback. Shedeur has filmed multiple commercials over the year. These showcase his personality and the dynamic feel demonstrated on and off the field. He has a real shot to be the No. 1 Overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
1. Bronny James (USC): $4.9 Million
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It’s all about Bronny. He has the most followers on social media of anyone on this list. With a combined 13 million followers on both TikTok and Instagram, James is virtually everywhere. Even in games where he has one steal for a dunk, that single bucket will be highlighted on every social media platform you could imagine. Plus, having LeBron James as your dad certainly opened up a plethora of NIL opportunities.
