Top 10 Big Ten players with highest NIL valuations ft. Evan StewartÂ
The Big Ten is off to a busy start in 2024. With the league and the College Football Playoff both expanding, parts of the Big Ten could be unrecognizable. That said, the league has plenty of top athletes and its NIL situation is impressive. On3.com published a list of NIL valuations, and while they're not perfect, they help make an intelligible picture of how college NIL deals work.
Here's a closer look at the 10 biggest Big Ten NIL paydays.
Top 10 Big Ten football players with highest NIL valuations
#10. Abdul Carter, Penn State, Edge
Carter's NIL value was rated at $687,000 by On3. The two-year starter at Edge has been very good. Carter has 104 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. Carter is the only front-seven defender on this list.
#9. Will Johnson, Michigan, CB
With an On3 NIL valuation of $721,000, Johnson seems like a value. He is perhaps the best cornerback in college football today. With 54 tackles and seven interceptions, he's a lockdown defender for the Wolverines.
#8. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, WR
Egbuka's NIL situation is valued at $751,000 by On3. After a brilliant 2022, he was so-so in 2023, partially because of some lingering injury issues. Egbuka caught 124 passes for 1,857 yards and 14 scores. If he's healthy, he could be a NIL bargain for Ohio State.
#7. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, WR
On the other hand, true frosh Jeremiah Smith hasn't yet played in his first collegiate game. But prior hype ensured that he's a big deal. Smith's NIL value is indicated as $752,000. It'll be interesting to see how Smith impacts the 2024 squad.
#6. Caleb Downs, Ohio State, S
Alabama transfer Caleb Downs is an exciting prospect and has an estimated NIL value of $817,000 per On3. In his freshman year of 2023, Downs had a team-high 107 tackles, snagged a pair of interceptions and broke up four more passes. He'll likely be a college standout and is the highest-ranked defender on the list.
#5. Julian Sayin, Ohio State, QB
A highly regarded prospect who transferred from Alabama, Sayin hasn't thrown a college pass yet. That hasn't stopped him from having an NIL value of $939,000.
#4. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska, QB
Another frosh without game experience, Raiola was a big grab for Nebraska coach Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers will be counting on Raiola to lead them through a season that wipes their seven-year run of long seasons off the stat book. His NIL value per On3 is $958,000.
#3. Will Howard, Ohio State, QB
A transfer from Kansas State, Howard gets the challenging task of getting Ohio State to an elusive national title win. Howard has a projected NIL value per On3 of $973,000. In four years at KSU, Howard threw for 5,786 yards and 48 touchdowns. He could be an instant hero if Ohio State claims a title.
#2. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon, QB
Now at his third school, Gabriel has starred everywhere. He passed for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns in a remarkable college career. Now handed the keys to Oregon's offense by Dan Lanning, his NIL evaluation is $1.2 million.
#1. Evan Stewart, Oregon, WR
The most valuable football player in the Big Ten is Evan Stewart, labeled at $1.3 million in NIL value per On3. A transfer from Texas A&M, Stewart has caught 91 passes for 1,163 yards and six touchdowns. Stewart and Tez Johnson should make a brilliant 1-2 punch for the Ducks.
Which Big Ten players do you think are worth the most in NIL value? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.