Texas football players have reported $11 million in NIL deals
AUSTIN, Texas (BVM) – How much money are the University of Texas Longhorn football players making in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deals?
UT athletes from 15 sports reported that they made a whopping $15,698,439 from 2,980 deals made between July 2021 and June 2023, according to data obtained by the Austin Business Journal.
In particular, UT football players made 71% of that approximate $15.7 million. In other words, Longhorns football players (mostly 18-21 years old) pocketed about $11 million in two years.
For context, the NIL era began two years ago in July 2021. College athletes in the state of Texas can receive NIL compensation, but high schoolers in the Lone Star State cannot (Top 10 “richest” Texas HS football players based on NIL). Athletes are in large part making money thanks to paid sponsorship deals (booked off their success on the field and/or social media following). The NCAA has been cracking down on “pay-for-play” arrangements.
In the past two years, UT players have struck gold with big-time deals. Running back Bijan Robinson made a NIL deal with luxury brand, Lamborghini. QB Quinn Ewers and WR Xavier Worthy snagged a deal with one of the most played games of 2022, Fortnite. The Pancake Factory made arrangements to give offensive linemen on scholarship the opportunity to earn $50,000 per year.
But, while UT appears to be a trailblazer in NIL compensation, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has made it clear that he doesn’t want football players who are following the dollar signs.
“I want players to come to the University of Texas because they want to come to the University of Texas,” Sarkisian said in a press conference… “If you’re choosing to come here because of NIL, you’re coming here for the wrong reasons.”
With over $11 million in the books for UT football players – the future looks even more golden considering the class lined up for the 2023 football season.
According to On3, there are five Texas football players with valuations worth over a half-a-million-dollars for the 2023 football season – quarterback Arch Manning ($2.8M), quarterback Quinn Ewers ($1.1M), wide receiver Xavier Worthy ($1.1M), offensive lineman Kelvin Banks ($718K) and wide receiver AD Mitchell ($543K).
How much are the Longhorns making compared to other Texas-area programs?
- Texas A&M Aggies football players made $3.3 million in the first year of NIL (2021-22), according to data obtained by The Eagle. But, the University didn’t disclose what the football players made in year two (2022-23).
- Texas Tech Red Raiders football players made $3,550,892 from July 1, 2021-June 30, 2023, according to information obtained by The Dallas Morning News. In other words, they’ve made about $7.5 million less than the Longhorns.
- Baylor, SMU and TCU (private schools) all turned down The Dallas Morning News’ request for its NIL reports.
