2023 saw some of the biggest Division I NIL deals to date. Records continue to be set in the world of NIL, and 2023 was no exception. Here are the top 9 performing NIL athletes of last year.
1. Bronny James
Bronny James is the son of NBA legend LeBron James. Bronny James is a freshman basketball player at the University of Southern California. James has 7.7 million Instagram followers and has a current NIL valuation of $5.9M according to On3. He has deals with Nike, Beats by Dre, and PSD Underwear.
2. Arch Manning
Arch Manning, the grandson of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, plays football at the University of Texas-Austin. He was the number one recruit in the 2023 class and had an NIL valuation of $3.7 million.
3. Mikey Williams
Mikey Williams is a basketball player at the University of Memphis who was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class. Williams wasted no time and secured an endorsement deal with the sportswear brand Puma when he was a senior in high school. He has been given a $3.6 million valuation.
4. Caleb Williams
Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams plays at the University of Southern California and was the number one pick in the NFL Mock Draft. On3 NIL valued Williams at $3.2 million for 2023 as the all-star player has secured deals with AT&T, Athletic Brewing Company, and Fanatics.
5. Olivia Dunne
Louisiana State University gymnast, Olivia Dunne, is one of the most famous college gymnasts in the world. She has established NIL deals with ESPN, Grubhub, Forever 21, and tons of other international organizations. This makes her one of the most marketable college athletes in the country and she earned up to $1 million in the first year of NIL. On3 NIL valued Dunne at $3.2 million this year.
6. Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders is the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders. He transferred from Jackson State University to the University of Colorado to be coached by his dad again. Sanders has already secured deals with Mercedes Benz, Gatorade, and Tom Brady's clothing brand (“BRADY”) earning him a $1.6 million valuation.
7. Marvin Harrison Jr.
Son of Super Bowl Champion, Marvin Harrison, Marvin Harrison Jr. became a starter at Ohio State University during his sophomore year. Harrison Jr. has 14 touchdowns and has run for 1,263 years, earning him a spot on the All-American team and named the Richter-Howard receiver of the year. This earned him a $1.6 million valuation and on On3's top 10 rankings list.
8. Hansel Emmanuel
Hansel Emmanual, a basketball player at Northwestern State University, became one of the best college basketball players for his ability and athleticism on the court, despite only having one arm. He has already signed deals with Adidas, T-Mobile, and Gatorade. Emmanuel has a $1.5 million valuation according to On3 and with over 4 million followers on social media, he is one of the most-watched college athletes on the internet.
9. Sunisa Lee
Sunisa Lee, a gymnast at Auburn University, is already one of the best in the world, as she won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games, 2019 World Champions, and 2022 NCAA Champion. She has already secured deals with CLIF Bar & Company, Amazon, Invisalign, Gatorade, and Target, giving her a $1.5 valuation.
Image Credit: Ohio State Buckeyes / LSU Sports / USC Trojans / USC Trojans
