Given the new NIL laws allowing college athletes to profit off their names, images, and likenesses, I'm just curious to know - who are the top earning college athletes under these new rules?
The landscape of college sports has shifted significantly since the inception of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) laws. Now, student-athletes can earn substantial money through endorsements, sponsorships, and various marketing opportunities.
Although the exact earnings of all athletes are not publicly available due to privacy reasons, there have been several documented cases of athletes securing significant deals under the NIL laws.
1. Spencer Rattler, the Oklahoma University quarterback, has reportedly made significant earnings, thanks to numerous sponsorship deals including national brand Raising Cane's.
2. University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young reportedly made close to a million dollars through various NIL deals before he even started a game.
3. LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne reportedly earns over two million, largely due to her massive following on social media, which she built before college.
4. Twin basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder at Fresno State University landed a significant deal with Boost Mobile thanks to their prominent following online.
These examples, however, can vary greatly. Each athlete’s NIL earning potential depends on their sport, performance, notoriety, social media following, the size of their college or university’s fan base, and the marketability of their brand. Hence, it isn't necessarily the case that the most well-known or most successful athletes in terms of sports performance are the highest earners under NIL rules.
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