Reviewed by: Michael Seale
Pinson, Alabama native is #3 in the NIL rankings
One of the buzziest topics of the 2023-2024 college football season are name, image and likeness (NIL) programs. Social media followings are more important than ever for these players, and one Alabama native is getting a lot of attention. Plus, Auburn and Alabama players make some appearances relatively high on the list. Here’s what you need to know.
Bo Nix is #3 in the NIL rankings
On3, a college sports and media company, has a top-100 NIL ranking of college football players that it updates each Tuesday. On the most recent list, an Alabama native came in at #3.
Bo Nix, the Oregon Ducks senior quarterback, attended high school at Pinson Valley north of Birmingham. He went on to be an impressive quarterback at Auburn University, where his father was also a quarterback from 1992-1995.
In 2020, Nix transferred to the University of Oregon, where he has continued his successful career.
But why is Nix #3 in the On3 valuation? Here are some stats.
- 192K total followers (157K on Instagram)
- $1.7M annual value
In May 2023, Nix signed an NIL deal with Division Street, followed by two more deals in August with FlexWorks Sports Management and Ducks Rising.
While Nix no longer plays football in Alabama, he visited his home state in 2022 for his wedding in Alpine, Alabama.
Here’s how Auburn + Alabama stack up in the NIL rankings
Scrolling through On3’s top-100 list, the first Auburn or Alabama player you’ll find comes in at #33. Jarquez Hunter, junior running back for the Auburn Tigers, has 40K social media followers. With a a $785K annual value, he is the only Auburn Tigers player in On3’s top 100. He signed a deal in June with NextGenCamps.
Scrolling further, you’ll find 7 Alabama Crimson Tide players in On3’s top 100.
- Kool-Aid McKinstry (junior cornerback): #42, $708K annual value, 167K total social media followers
- JC Latham (junior offensive tackle): #44, $681K annual value, 19K total social media followers
- Caleb Downs (freshman safety): #51, $609K annual value, 99K total social media followers
- Dallas Turner (junior edge): #60, $569K annual value, 40K total social media followers
- Malik Benson (junior wide receiver): #61, $562K annual value, 17.7K total social media followers
- Kadyn Proctor (freshman offensive tackle): #84, $467K annual value, 46K total social media followers
- Keon Kelley (freshman edge): #86, 455K annual value, 23K total social media followers
What is NIL?
If you’re a bit behind on all the new NIL things happening, let me catch you up.
- NIL stands for name, image and likeness.
- It addresses the question of, “Should college athletes be paid?” Under NIL standards, the answer is “yes.”
- With NIL programs, athletes can sell rights to their name, image and likeness.
- An interim NIL policy was first approved in June 2021.
- NIL activities must be consistent with state law, which colleges and universities are responsible for.
- Many colleges have an official NIL program. Auburn’s NIL program is called On to Victory and Alabama’s is called Yea Alabama.
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