Nico Iamaleava, the Tennessee Volunteers’ quarterback, is one of college football’s top NIL earners. There have been many rumors regarding how much the Vols paid to sign the highly rated prospect.
Nico Iamaleava’s NIL Deals Explained: How Much Is Iamaleava Worth?
Nicholaus “Nico” Iamaleava, the college football sensation, astonished everyone with successive breakout performances in the 2024 college football season. Despite winning his first five collegiate games, Tennessee’s quarterback failed to keep the streak alive, as the Volunteers lost to Arkansas.
Iamaleava has been a prospect with considerable excitement dating back to high school. 247Sports categorized Iamaleava as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 player in the 2023 class.
As a senior dual-threat quarterback, he completed 1,726 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while also scoring six rushing touchdowns. Toward the end of his high school career, the majority of recruiters in the 2023 class awarded him five-star ratings.
According to the most recent On3 Nil valuation update, Iamaleava’s NIL valuation is roughly $3.1 million, ranking him among college football’s greatest players. His NIL valuation includes his annual revenue from brand endorsements and promotions using his Name, Image, and Likeness.
Tennessee QB @Nico_Iamaleava8 announced his first nationwide #NIL deal through a new agreement with health and wellness supplement company @ForceFactor.@JeremyCrabtree has more on the deal facilitated by @SpyreSports: https://t.co/Zwt7wZbeAC@Volquest_On3 @Vol_Football #GBO pic.twitter.com/4fXiQ2hMQA
— On3 NIL (@On3NIL) March 3, 2023
Iamaleava’s potential NIL agreement, allegedly worth $8 million, has sparked much interest and theories. His commitment to the Volunteers immediately after the agreement ignited the speculation.
“We should start by going back to the recruitment of five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who agreed to an unprecedented $8 million NIL deal in 2022 after committing to the Vols,” Branch wrote on Sept. 18.
Social media fan following also significantly impacts a player’s NIL valuation. He has over 171,000 Instagram followers and is quite active in sharing and promoting his brand endorsements.
On March 11, 2022, he signed a NIL contract with Spyre Sports Group, a sports marketing and media agency. Furthermore, on November 17, 2022, he signed a partnership with Leaf Trading Cards.
On Jan. 26 and March 3, 2023, he promoted Spyre Sports Group with promotional videos on Instagram and Twitter.
KEEP READING: CFB Analyst Impressed with Iamaleava’s Talent
On Dec. 29, 2023, he signed an endorsement deal with The Volunteer Club, powered by Spyre Sports. Finally, on Aug. 21, 2024, he signed a NIL contract with Beats by Dre, an American consumer audio device company. The brand signed 11 college football players, including Iamaleava.
As Iamaleava’s college career continues, his NIL value is expected to climb. A combination of athletic prowess, clever commercial relationships, and a prominent social media presence marks him as a leader in the dynamic NIL landscape.
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