Deion Sanders on if NIL existed when he played: 'I would really need Jesus to come down'
Before he became a two-sport sensation in the NFL and MLB, “Prime Time” started in Tallahassee. Deion Sanders was a two-time unanimous All-American during his time at Florida State and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
He became one of the biggest names in sports. It’s worth wondering just how well Sanders – now the head coach at Colorado – would’ve done in the NIL space if it existed at the time.
Speaking on All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Coach Prime knew he’d have thrived in the NIL era. If a 19-year-old Deion Sanders had the ability to sign endorsement deals, he could tell how that would go.
“I don’t even know who to even compare me to what I would be like,” Sanders said. “Jesus. I would need help because of all the access, the internet. Trouble. I would really need Jesus to come down, himself. … ‘Slow down.'”
“Prime Time” became one of the most electrifying figures in sports during his storied career. During his time in the NFL, Sanders made eight Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls across his career with the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington and Baltimore Ravens. But he also shined in MLB, hitting .263 with 39 home runs and 168 RBI during his time with the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.
That alone made Sanders one of the most notable athletes in the world. But if he played in the current NIL era – with social media and endorsement ads at his disposal – he could see a lot to handle.
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“Is he saved?” Sanders said of his 19-year-old self. “Because if he ain’t have the Lord with him … it’s gonna be trouble.”
Colorado stars thriving in NIL space
Although Deion Sanders never got to see how he’d fare in the NIL era, he’s watching his son become one of the biggest names in college sports. Shedeur Sanders enters the 2024 season with an On3 NIL Valuation of $4.7 million, which ranks No. 1 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.
Another one of Sanders’ Colorado players is thriving in the spotlight, as well. Travis Hunter sits fourth in the On3 NIL 100 with an NIL Valuation of $2.7 million and was a cover athlete for the long-awaited EA Sports College Football 25 video game.
The On3 NIL Valuation is calculated by combining Roster Value and personal NIL. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. NIL in an athlete’s name, image and likeness and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.