A college wide receiver can make half as much as an NFL player in NIL

There is no doubt that Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) has changed college football. And the numbers are fast approaching professional football-level salaries.

In a recent report from On3, the NIL valuation for top-tier high school wide receivers have some crazy numbers. Getting a five-star wide receiver is fast approaching the half-million dollar mark.

And, you can make more playing college football (or high school football) than in, say the CFL. Quite a bit more.

The top five recruits in the On3 Industry Rankings have an NIL valuation of $360,000. Given that the last pick in the NFL draft makes $815,184 and undrafted rookie free agent contracts start at $795,000…well, it is insane to think that a teenager who might not have a driver’s license yet is making half as much as someone in the NFL.

Not that it is a bad thing, just really is a brave new world, isn’t it?

Check out this tweet from On3 about how the top 15 wide receivers in the nation are valued. Many of them undoubtedly make more than their high school teachers or coaches do.

And likely more than some of their future college professors as well.

 

Average High School WR recruit On3 NIL Valuations

Read: https://t.co/qlaaggVMWL pic.twitter.com/iFA6kF1Tje

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 28, 2024

The top-ranked NIL valuation in college sports is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders ($4.5 million per On3).