NIL Earnings Make Some College Athletes Millionaires

As of July 1, college athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness. 

Less than a month after the landmark ruling, the NIL millionaire club has emerged, and it’s growing.

• Nick Saban says Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has already made nearly $1 million off his NIL.
• Incoming Tennessee State University basketball player Hercy Miller, the son of Master P, signed a $2 million endorsement deal with technology company Web Apps America. 
• With over 5 million social followers, high school hoops sensation Mikey Williams signed a contract with Excel Sports Management that’s expected to earn him millions.
• LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has yet to sign a contract, but entertainment lawyer Roy Maughan Jr. estimates she could strike a deal worth $4 million-$5 million.

The NIL landscape has drawn both praise and criticism from high school and college coaches. Saban said he knows that things will likely be unequal. Kirby Smart, Georgia’s football coach, warned elite players to be selective about the brands they work with.

North Carolina became the first college athletics program to organize group licensing deals with third parties.

Michigan football players were the first to cash in on jersey sales featuring their names. The deal is with The M Den, Michigan’s officially licensed retailer, not the school.