Alabama WR Ryan Williams inks NIL deal with nail polish brand Sally Hansen

Alabama standout wide receiver Ryan Williams celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday by inking an NIL deal. The freshman signed an endorsement deal with the nail polish brand Sally Hansen.

Williams paints his nails before every game, a tradition that started back in high school with his little sister. Throughout the 2024 season, the wide receiver showed off multiple colors, including orange against Tennessee and green one week to match his suit.

“Now I’m all ready to enjoy my birthday and the big game,” he said on Instagram while showing off his freshly painted black nails.

Now he has an NIL deal with the beauty company Sally Hansen. He’s not the first college athlete to sign with the brand. Duke star Jared McCain, who was also known for painting his nails, inked an agreement with Sally Hansen last year.

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A post shared by Hollywood Williams (@ryanwms1)

Williams, nicknamed “Hollywood,” had a breakout freshman season. He posted six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown against Georgia and finished the year with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. A Freshman All-American ranked 11th in the SEC in receiving yards and averaged 66.5 yards per game, good for 10th in the league.

His performance against the Bulldogs caught the nation’s attention, as he spun up in the air to grab a pass, before spinning again and running past two Georgia defenders for a 75-yard touchdown. The Alabama-Georgia game averaged 12 million viewers with a peak of 14 million. Williams’ catch was the talk of social media, boosting his brand value and notoriety.

Ryan Williams’ growing On3 NIL Valuation

The former Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver watched his social media following and On3 NIL Valuation take off this season. He currently holds an On3 NIL Valuation of $2.3 million and nearly 900,000 social media followers.

A Saraland, Alabama, native, Williams’ valuation is No. 14 in college football. He also sits at No. 19 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and de facto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

Williams’ On3 NIL Valuation only sits behind Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith ($4 million) at the wide receiver position. Williams reclassified to the 2024 class during his recruitment and didn’t turn 18 years old until Sunday.

The Alabama wide receiver has added multiple endorsement deals in recent months. He inked an agreement with the football equipment company NXTRND. Williams also signed with EA Sports College Football 25 and Fortnite, plus held a Rising Tide Youth Football Camp last spring.