NIL: Ranking College Athletes' Name, Image, Likeness Valuations

Top 20 College Athletes With The Highest NIL Valuations

College athletes are making money in college sports because Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals are now a normal thing. Numerous college athletes have taken advantage of the opportunity to secure lucrative NIL deals. These athletes have leveraged their popularity, skills, and personal brand to enter into various endorsement agreements and partnerships.

Signing NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals while playing college sports offers several benefits for athletes. Here are some key advantages:

1. Financial Opportunities

2. Business and Brand Building

3. Entrepreneurial Freedom

4. Community Engagement

5. Career Preparation

It’s not just players at top sports schools getting paid from NIL deals, either. Last year, an unprecedented number of student-athletes at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) cashed in, including current University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders at Jackson State University. Hunter, a two-way star who plays both wide receiver and safety, inked a deal with famous HBCU football alum Michael Strahan to represent his business entities. That followed Sanders, a quarterback, signing deals with Gatorade, Beats and Tom Brady’s apparel company. They were joined by Norfolk State University’s track and football standout Rayquan Smith, who had amassed more than 70 NIL deals as of last year. In addition, multiple brands have provided deals to the entire rosters of certain HBCU teams.

It’s important to note that while NIL deals offer opportunities for athletes, there are complexities and challenges associated with navigating these arrangements. It is also important that all athletes understand the rules and regulations set by their respective colleges and athletic associations to participate in such.

Let’s take a look at the Top 20 Athletes Players With The Highest NIL Valuations below! Each NIL Valuation came from On3 NIL.

1. Bronny James – $6.1M Valuation

College: USC

Sport: Basketball

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 7.7M

Tik Tok followers: 5.8M

Twitter/X followers: 24K

On3 NIL Valuation: $6.1M

2. Shedeur Sanders – $4.1M Valuation

College: Colorado

Sport: Football

Year: Junior

Instagram followers: 1.1M

Tik Tok followers: 266K

Twitter/X followers: 51K

On3 NIL Valuation: $4.1M

3. Livvy Dunne – $3.2M Valuation

College: LSU

Sport: Gymnastics

Year: Junior

Instagram followers: 4.4M

Tik Tok followers: 7.5M

Twitter/X followers: 104K

On3 NIL Valuation: $3.2M

4. Arch Manning – $2.9M Valuation

College: Texas

Sport: Football

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 197K

Tik Tok followers: 8.9K

Twitter/X followers: 65K

On3 NIL Valuation: $2.9M

5. Caleb Williams – $2.6M Valuation

College: USC

Sport: Football

Year: Junior

Instagram followers: 212K

Tik Tok followers: 22K

Twitter/X followers: 75K

On3 NIL Valuation: $2.6M

6. Travis Hunter – $1.8M Valuation

College: Colorado

Sport: Football

Year: Sophomore

Instagram followers: 726K

Tik Tok followers: 713K

Twitter/X followers: 56K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.8M

7. Evan Stewart – $1.7M Valuation

College: Texas A&M

Sport: Football

Year: Sophomore

Instagram followers: 253K

Tik Tok followers: 2.1M

Twitter/X followers: 22K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.7M

8. Angel Reese – $1.7M Valuation

College: LSU

Sport: Basketball

Year: Junior

Instagram followers: 2.5M

Tik Tok followers: 2.2M

Twitter/X followers: 375K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.7M

9. Drake Maye – $1.5M Valuation

College: North Carolina

Sport: Football

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Instagram followers: 57k

Twitter/X followers: 17.7k

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.5M

10. Bo Nix – $1.4M Valuation

College: Oregon

Sport: Football

Year: Senior

Instagram followers: 157k

Tik Tok followers: 540

Twitter/X followers: 34K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.4M

11. Marvin Harrison Jr. – $1.4M Valuation

College: Ohio State

Sport: Football

Year: Junior

Instagram followers: 256K

Tik Tok followers: 138K

Twitter/X followers: 65K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.4M

12. Michael Penix Jr. – $1.3M Valuation

College: Washington

Sport: Football

Year: Redshirt Senior

Instagram followers: 20K

Tik Tok followers: 609

Twitter/X followers: 13.2K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.3M

13. Bryce James – $1.2M Valuation

College: Committed to Duquesne University

Sport: Basketball

Year: Still in high school

Instagram followers: 1.9M

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.2M

14. Quinn Ewers – $1.2M Valuation

College: Texas

Sport: Football

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Instagram followers: 165K

Twitter/X followers: 55K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.2M

15. Hansel Emmanuel – $1.2M Valuation

College: Austin Peay

Sport: Basketball

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 1.6M

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.2M

16. Jordan Travis – $1.2M Valuation

College: Florida State

Sport: Football

Year: Redshirt Senior

Instagram followers: 79K

Tik Tok followers: 12.8K

Twitter/X followers: 40K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.2M

17. Nico Iamaleava – $1.1M Valuation

College: Tennessee

Sport: Football

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 168K

Tik Tok followers: 139K

Twitter/X followers: 25K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1M

18. Jared McCain – $1.1M Valuation

College: Duke

Sport: Basketball

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 600K

Tik Tok followers: 2M

Twitter/X followers: 11.3K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1M

19. Flau'jae Johnson – $1.1M Valuation

College: LSU

Sport: Basketball

Year: Freshman

Instagram followers: 1.6M

Tik Tok followers: 1.3M

Twitter/X followers: 93K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1M

20. Blake Corum – $1.1M Valuation

College: Michigan

Sport: Football

Year: Senior

Instagram followers: 112K

Tik Tok followers: 18.5K

Twitter/X followers: 52K

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1M