Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has changed the college football landscape. The sport is now in a new era, and athletes are making the most of the new opportunities available to them.
NIL has impacted all levels of the sport, from small deals to huge ones that see college athletes paid millions. Which players have the highest NIL valuations in 2024?
Top 10 NIL Deals in 2024
It is difficult to narrow down the NIL values of each college football player as no central institution or regulatory body oversees and reports on these matters. Deals don’t have to be disclosed publicly, and as such, evaluating individual contract values and even total valuations for players isn’t straightforward.
This list is the projection of the highest NIL earners from the On3 college football NIL rankings, and details are provided of the exact deals for each player where they are disclosed.
10) Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee
The hype for Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava since he signed on Rocky Top has been palpable, with the Vols QB signing NIL deals before he even set foot on campus.
His On3 NIL valuation is $1.2 million, with multiple deals reported. Iamaleava signed deals with Spyre Sports Group – a Volunteers NIL collective – in early 2023.
The Athletic reported that Iamaleava signed an $8 million four-year deal with the collective.
Then, in Dec. 2023, it was revealed that several Tennessee players, including Iamaleava, had signed a NIL deal with Top Tier Authentics, but the amounts distributed have yet to be discovered.
9) Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Dillon Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon for the 2024 season, making the top 10 NIL earners in the process.
While the exact details are unknown, we do know that Gabriel has signed deals with Brand Unlimted to release merchandise, and took advantage of NIL opportunities with the Crimson and Cream collective while at Oklahoma in 2023.
Although the details of Gabriel’s deals are vague, On3 put his NIL valuation at $1.3 million in 2024.
8) Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart led the Ole Miss Rebels to an 11-win season in 2023, growing his NIL value as a result.
On3 put the total worth of Dart’s NIL deals at $1.4 million, ranking him in the top 10. However, the individual values of each opportunity haven’t been disclosed at this point.
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Dart has a deal with the Grove Collective – an Ole Miss NIL collective – who partnered with The Brandr Group to pen a deal with Wheels Up. The deal involves players giving back to the community on behalf of the private jet company.
The Rebels QB also has a tie-in with NextGenCamps, but the exact details are undisclosed.
7) Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Multiple NIL deals signed by Carson Beck in 2023 have seen his NIL valuation sore. On3 put his valuation at $1.5 million, but that figure is expected to grow before the start of the 2024 season.
The deals inked by Beck include Leaf Trading Cards, Zero FG Energy Drink, and The Player Lounge, a platform that produces “athlete-driven content and experiences.”
Most recently, Beck signed an agreement with Associate Credit Union. The deal was signed in December 2023 after Beck announced he would return to school.
His relationship with Associate Credit Union will see Beck feature on advertising campaigns and make appearances in the local community.
6) Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
Oregon WR Evan Stewart has a combined 2.4 million followers across social media platforms, and his popularity off the field has seen him sign some big NIL deals.
The deals signed by Steward give him an On3 NIL valuation of $1.5 million, but the exact money involved in each deal is unknown.
In 2023, Stewart signed deals with NOCCO – a drinks brand – and Coach – a designer fashion label. Stewart transferred from Texas A&M to Oregon in 2024, but before the move, he had a deal with Texas Aggies United, a Texas A&M collective consisting of several donors.
5) Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe enters the 2024 season with an On3 NIL valuation of $1.6 million and has signed several deals dating back to 2022.
Rhoback, Beats by Dre, and HEYDUDE Shoes all signed deals with Milroe in 2023. Meanwhile, “Yea Alabama” – the official NIL Collective of the Crimson Tide– has also helped secure opportunities for the returning quarterback.
Those deals include the LANK brand, created by Milroe and teammate Terrion Arnold to sell merchandise, in addition to the Jalen Miloe Youth Football Camp.
4) Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The list of NIL deals signed by Texas QB Quinn Ewers is extensive. It stretches back to 2021 when he announced his first NIL deal with Holy Kombucha after reclassifying to join the Ohio State Buckeyes early out of high school.
Ewers also signed two other deals at that time, with Rickart Automotive and GTSM –- who reportedly inked a deal worth over $1 million with Ewers.
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Since then, Ewers has penned deals with Aston Martin Dallas, Fortnite, Wrangler, Sonic, Beats by Dre, Vanguard Volkswagen, and Goldinity. Remarkably, that’s not all of them.
Ewers’ ever-growing list of NIL opportunities has led to On3 giving Ewers a NIL valuation of $1.9 million in 2024.
3) Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes’ Travis Hunter is one of only two players on this list who aren’t quarterback, showcasing the continuing importance of the position. The fact that Hunter is so high on this list shows what an enigma the former Jackson State two-way standout is in college football.
Hunter has inked a plethora of NIL deals, resulting in his latest valuation of $2.3 million.
His recent deals have been with Leaf Trading Cards, FreeFrom Sports, Rock ‘Em Socks, and Cheez-It. Over his career, Hunter has worked with many brands to maximize his earning potential.
Greenwood, SoHoodie, NXTRND, American Eagle, and Phil Long Ford are just some names who have partnered with Hunter.
2) Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Texas QB Arch Manning topped the 2023 highest NIL valuation list as a freshman. The hype around him has been generated because of his exceptional high school career and his family name, but we only know of one deal he has signed so far.
That deal is with Panini America, who have been auctioning signed Manning cards. The first-ever signed Manning card sold for over $100,000.
The queue of brands looking to capitalize on the Manning name, not to mention his standing as the next-in-line to the Texas Longhorns’ starting QB job as the program moves into the lucrative SEC market, is substantial.
As a result, On3 values Mannings NIL deals at $2.8 million, but the Texas QB has been knocked off his perch by another quarterback with a famous family name.
1) Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The top NIL valuation given by On3 goes to Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, valued at an astonishing $4.7 million — almost as much as the second and third-placed players on this list combined. It’s also up considerably from $1.3 million one year ago.
No wonder Sanders returned to Colorado instead of entering the NFL Draft. The son of Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, the name association, of course, plays a part. However, Colorado has become one of the trendiest college programs with Deion as HC.
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After transferring from Jackson State to follow his father to Boulder, Sanders has signed deals with some of the biggest brands on the planet, including Beats by Dre, Gatorade, Mercedes-Benz, Under Armour, Oikos, Urban Outfitters, and Google.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!