There may be new guardrails soon put in place, but NIL in college athletics is certainly here to stay.
While there are plenty of flaws with the current “structure,” there are plenty of positives as well.
It’s a good thing that players are able to be compensated for their hard-work and all of the money they help bring to their universities.
It’s also good for college football as a whole in the sense that players who in the past would have left for the NFL Draft will now consider staying in college knowing that they can make money while improving themselves on the football field.
Don’t get me wrong though – there is a whole lot that needs to be fixed with NIL and the transfer portal. If the system isn’t fixed soon, the train will surely go off the tracks.
Nick Saban said on Capitol Hill today he retired to a large degree because of NIL and all players care about now is getting paid. pic.twitter.com/XUaUkOmWBO
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 12, 2024
An interesting new report recently came out spotlighting the fact that USC quarterback Caleb Williams made way more in NIL compensation than originally thought.
NIL deals for top 2024 draft QBs
1. Caleb Williams – $10 million
2. Drake Maye – $1.4 million
3. Bo Nix – $1.4 million
4. JJ Mccarthy – $895,000
5. Jayden Daniels – $550,000— Commanders Declassified Podcast (@DeclassifiedWft) March 14, 2024
Williams had a $2.7 million NIL value assigned to him by an NIL projection service.
As it turns out, $2.7 million was chump change compared to what he actually earned.
According to Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic, Williams’ NIL earnings have skyrocketed, surpassing the $10 million mark within the past two seasons.
“Between NIL money and endorsements, Caleb made millions in his final two seasons at USC,” a source told Kahler. “It wasn’t like having a college quarterback on your roster. It was like having an NFL starting quarterback on your roster.”
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Between NIL money and endorsements, multiple sources estimate that Caleb Williams made around $10 million dollars in his final two seasons at USC, via @kalynkahler
A quote from the article: “It wasn’t like having a college quarterback on your roster,” said a… pic.twitter.com/xZojXQwji5
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 28, 2024
Williams’ endorsement portfolio reads like a who’s who of corporate giants, with deals secured from brands such as Dr. Pepper, United Airlines, Postmates, Wendy’s, and Nissan.
These partnerships have bolstered his financial standing, defying previous estimates that pegged his NIL value at a comparatively modest $2.7 million.
Kahler: Caleb Williams is the first NIL megastar to top NFL Draft https://t.co/4OELwBfKQk
— NASCAR Driver News (@NASCAR_Drivers) March 8, 2024
The revelation of Williams’ substantial earnings underscores the transformative impact of NIL reforms, offering college athletes newfound opportunities for financial gain.
Now, Williams is off to the NFL Draft where he is expected to be chosen by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick.
This is my opinion about what’s wrong with college football and the whole NIL/Transfer Portal situation.
A clip from my podcast show @SportsTalkJB#ncaa #NIL #transferportal #CollegeFootball #SportsTalkJB 🔥🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HWZKwIk1iH
— J.B. #SportsTalkJB (@young_ent_) March 13, 2024
What are your thoughts on NIL?
Is it good? Is it bad? … What changes need to be made to fix the overall system of it?
Who will be the highest NIL earner in college football next season???
Caleb Williams in a apartment looks to be Chicago in the background 👀@CALEBcsw pic.twitter.com/JFu53AIRr6
— JORGE (@Caleb4ROTY) January 14, 2024