Top 10 NIL Valuations in the 2024 recruiting class

The high school football recruiting landscape is an ever changing environment and name, image and likeness (NIL) has become a massive factor in the process. Several college and high school athletes have found ways to monetize their success on the field in a way that was once unheard of.

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation establishes the overall NIL market and projected 12-month growth rate by measuring two categories, Brand Value Index and Roster Value Index.  

The Brand Value Index measures the national licensing and sponsorship market. The Roster Value Index collects data from all school Collectives into a proprietary Roster Management software. Brand Value and Roster Value are combined to create the overall NIL market.

With the 2023 recruiting cycle in the rear view, here are the top 10 On3 NIL valuations for 2024 football recruits.

1. Five-Star Plus+ QB Dylan Raiola — $801K

The No. 1 overall prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings, Dylan Raiola has one of the most recognizable last names in the recruiting landscape. His dad Dominic Raiola is a Nebraska legend and his uncle Donovan is the offensive line coach in Lincoln. Between his Twitter and Instagram following Dylan has over 35K followers but his status as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect as well as his high-profile recruitment separates him from the rest of the group.

2. 5-star QB DJ Lagway — $645K

DJ Lagway is a Florida commit who was recently named a five-star recruit according to the On3 Industry Comparison. Another one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Lagway has a giant social media presence with over 43,000 total followers. Nearly 19,000 of those followers see Lagway try to recruit every top prospect he can to Florida whenever they say they’ve been offered by the Gators or are taking visits to Tallahassee.

3. 5-star QB Julian Sayin — $644K

Julian Sayin doesn’t have the social media following Lagway or Raiola have, but he is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, an Alabama commit and playing in California, he plays in a state where high school athletes can earn NIL money without jeopardizing their school.

4. 4-star QB Jadyn Davis — $582K

Another one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects, Jadyn Davis hasn’t committed anywhere yet but has powerhouse programs like Michigan and Ohio State trying to land his commitment. He also has the largest Instagram following of any of the quarterbacks up to this point as he closes in on 24,000 followers on the platform.

5. 4-star QB Elijah Brown — $462K

Like Sayin, Elijah Brown has the luxury of playing in California and earning NIL money before he even sets foot on a college campus. Along with being another one of the nation’s top quarterback recruits, he has a large TikTok following at more 10,300 with hundreds of thousands of views.

6. Five-Star Plus+ WR Jeremiah Smith — $447K

Jeremiah Smith is the nation’s top-ranked wide receiver and has been an Ohio State commitment since December. He also boasts one of the largest social media followings of any recruit at 48,000 with nearly 34,000 of those followers on Instagram.

7. 5-star CB Ellis Robinson IV — $422K

Ellis Robinson IV doesn’t have the biggest social media platform but he is a Georgia commit and is also the top defensive player for one of the nation’s top high school programs in IMG Academy.

8. Five-Star Plus+ S KJ Bolden — $417K

KJ Bolden is one the best defensive prospects in the country and has garnered a massive social media following. Bolden’s closing in on 40,000 total followers and is sure to add thousands more as he tries to decide between the nation’s best programs.

9. 4-star QB CJ Carr — $414K

Notre Dame commit CJ Carr is the grandson of legendary former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.Along with the legacy of his last name, CJ has built a large social media following as well with over 22,000 followers, most following him on Instagram (11,000) and Twitter (9,700)

10. 5-star WR Micah Hudson — $378K

Micah Hudson checks in at No. 10 on this list and not too far off of the players ahead of him. One of the top 10 recruits in the country, Hudson also has a large social media following consisting of close to 15,000 between his Instagram (9,100), Twitter (3,500) and TikTok (2,500).