Bryce Underwood, AJ Dybantsa pushing the limits of NIL packages for high school recruits

Bryce Underwood and AJ Dybantsa are ranked as the No. 1 recruits in high school football and basketball, respectively, in the 2025 cycle. Both are on track to sign record-setting NIL packages that will push the limits of dollars spent by NIL collectives on elite high school prospects.

Underwood’s recruitment has ramped up in recent weeks. The quarterback has been committed to LSU since January, but Michigan has gone all-in to keep the Belleville, Michigan, native closer to home.

Industry sources told On3 in late October that Underwood was expected to land an NIL package valued above $5 million over three to four years, regardless of the program that lands his signature on National Signing Day. On Wednesday, The Wolverine’s EJ Holland reported the number he is hearing is “around $10.5 million over four years.”

If Underwood flips his commitment and signs a deal valued at more than $10 million, it would be the highest-know financial package for a high school football recruit of the NIL Era, which started in July 2021. If paid out evenly over the four years, Underwood would make $2.6 million annually and $218,750 per month.

In March 2022, The Athletic reported that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava signed an $8 million contract over three years. That number set the quarterback market and drove NIL packages into the seven figures. And in November 2022, four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada flipped his commitment from Miami to Florida largely because of a massive $13.85 million NIL deal. That was later terminated. Rashada sued Florida head coach Billy Napier in May.

The high-end transfer portal quarterbacks landed $750,000 to $1 million NIL packages last offseason. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and Miami quarterback Cam Ward both eclipsed the $1 million mark.

Dybantsa is viewed as the front-runner to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft and has earned comparisons to Jayson Tatum. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound small forward’s NIL deal would be the highest one-year payout in the NIL Era. On3 reported last month that he is set to land a one-year financial package that will top $3 million and could get as high as $4 million.

In an era of lucrative deals with donor-led NIL collectives, BYU and Kansas State appear to be legitimate contenders, with the Cougars the clear favorite. A source close to BYU told On3 that, “4 to $4.5 million is what they [Cougars] are prepared to pay.”

On3’s Joe Tipton reported earlier this week that Dybantsa’s commitment timeline has been expedited and the expectation is that he will commit this month. His father, Ace, had previously told reporters the decision was set for February 2025.

Utah State forward Great Osobor committed to Washington and Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins committed to Kansas State last spring. Both reportedly landed $2 million NIL agreements, the two highest-known deals from the men’s basketball transfer portal.