In June of 2021, the NCAA made a historic decision that would change the landscape of college sports forever. They decided to allow college athletes to earn money through name, image, and likeness (NIL), which opened up a world of possibilities for college athletes who had previously been unable to monetize their skills and talents.

As a result of this change, schools and brands may offer financial incentives to recruit players. The top schools for player NIL valuation are Texas A&M, the University of Michigan, and Oklahoma University. Players at these schools can earn an average of $85,000, $65,000, and $64,000, respectively. However, these numbers only scratch the surface of what is possible for college athletes.

The top five NIL earners in college football have been analyzed, and Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young is the highest earner at $3.2 million. This is a staggering amount of money for a college athlete, and it highlights just how much potential there is for players to earn from NIL deals.

Of course, not every college athlete is going to earn millions of dollars from NIL deals. However, even smaller payments and partnerships can make a big impact on a player's life. As one article notes, "a couple hundred dollars here and there can make a big impact for some of these young men". Many student-athletes with smaller followings on social media have worked with local businesses or partnered with bigger brands to receive free products, gift cards, or smaller payments.

The Vitamin Shoppe, for example, hired 14 college players with under 10,000 Instagram followers to promote their brand on social media. This is a win-win situation for both the athletes and the businesses, as the athletes are able to earn money or receive free products, and the businesses are able to tap into a new audience and potentially increase sales.

So just how much can college athletes make from NIL deals? According to one estimate, college athletes earned an estimated $917 million in the first year of NIL payments, which began in July 2021. This is an incredible amount of money, and it shows just how much potential there is for college athletes to earn from NIL deals.

However, it's important to note that there are limitations on what college athletes can do with their NIL. For example, they cannot promote competing brands, violate NCAA rules, receive additional compensation beyond what is allowed, or violate existing contracts or agreements. It's also important for college athletes to approach NIL contracts with caution and to consult with an attorney if necessary.

Overall, the decision to allow college athletes to earn money from their names, images, and likenesses has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for these young men and women. Whether they are earning millions of dollars from huge brands or receiving smaller payments and partnerships from local businesses, college athletes are now able to monetize their skills and talents in a way that was previously impossible. It will be interesting to see how this new era of college sports develops and evolves in the coming years.

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