Five NIL storylines to watch entering 2022 college football season

The second college football season with NIL being legal has arrived.

There were plenty of storylines that emerged only weeks into the 2021 season. What did it mean that Spencer Rattler was benched in favor of Caleb Williams? Would his deal with the local car dealership fall apart?

Turns out, all Rattler needed to do was hit the transfer portal. He’s now landed at South Carolina where he’s set to start in the SEC.

The point is simple — college football has plenty of ups and downs. And that rings true across NIL. So On3 is breaking down the five storylines we’re watching entering the 2022 college football season.

Is Anthony Richardson ready to ascend to national stardom?

Florida finally feels confident it has found its guy to lead the program. The Billy Napier Era kicks off this weekend in the national spotlight, as Utah makes a visit to The Swamp. But all eyes will really be on Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson. After putting up with Dan Mullen‘s wonky quarterback system last year, Richardson has the job wrapped up. If Florida ends Utah’s College Football Playoff dreams on Saturday, it will have Richardson to thank. There’s a NIL impact to consider, too. If the 6-foot-4, 232-pound redshirt sophomore can turn Florida into a contender in the SEC East this season, he’ll immediately vault himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation. He already has an On3 NIL Valuation of $547,000. The last player to win college football’s top honor at Florida — Tim Tebow. Anthony Richardson has all the physical traits needed to be special. If he can harness that, there’s no question that he will have opportunity after opportunity in the NIL space.

Who emerges as Bryce Young’s go-to wideout?

Jameson Williams, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, Amari Cooper, Julio Jones. That’s eight NFL first-round picks. And they all played wide receiver at Alabama. Nick Saban has established Tuscaloosa as the Wide Receiver Factory. But who is next? Last year, Bryce Young could easily rely on Williams and Waddle. Slade Bolden is gone, too. But entering Saturday’s game against Utah State there’s not a determined star in Alabama’s wide receiver corps. Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton can fill that mold, though. He caught 26 passes for 497 yards and five touchdowns last season, helping the Bulldogs win the national championship over Alabama. Iron Bowl hero Ja’Corey Brooks became a factor in the passing game late in the season last year, too. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to make a name for himself. Alabama will reload at the position, but not like other years. If Brooks or Burton can ascend into a Jameson Williams-esque roll, Alabama could have a potential NIL star on its hands.

Can Ohio State produce a defensive star?

When Chase Young was tormenting offensive lines in the Big Ten back in 2019, there was no other defensive star comparable in college football. Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. has the title this year. Former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles came into Columbus this offseason to revamp Ohio State‘s defense. Known for his aggressive style of defense, Oklahoma State’s defense led the nation in sacks last season. Ohio State finished 100th in opponent third-down conversion percentage allowed last fall. Knowles’ defensive play-calling can change that. And the Buckeyes have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Second-year defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau were both ranked in the top five at their position in the 2021 class. Defensive back Denzel Burke had a standout freshman year. One of those three is primed to have a breakout year and become the face of Ohio State’s defense. And we know what a player endeared in Columbus means.

Will the ACC produce a Heisman-caliber quarterback?

There’s no question the ACC has quarterback talent with Devin Leary, Tyler Van Dyke, Sam Hartman, Brennan Armstrong, Malik Cunningham and Jordan Travis. Heck, Cade Klubnik could be the starter at Clemson by the end of the season. All have the talent to be the best quarterback in the conference. Hartman could still piece together a perfect campaign, but a “non-football-related” medical condition is keeping him sidelined to start the season. If Mario Cristobal can jumpstart Miami out of the gate, Van Dyke will be right in the national spotlight. And then there’s Leary. All offseason, NC State has been thrown around as the dark horse team that could crash the College Football Playoff. The Wolfpack has even did a soft launch for Leary’s Heisman campaign. Can they do it? A date in Death Valley against Clemson on Oct. 1 will be the barometer. The highest-ranked ACC quarterback in the On3 NIL 100 is Van Dyke at No. 37. If any of these quarterbacks can piece together a strong five weeks to open the season, some deals could be rolling their way.

Which freshman star will become a household name?

Fact: Whichever freshman has a strong start to their college careers could have some major NIL opportunities heading into Year 2. There’s a lot of talent that’s going to have an opportunity to play immediately this season. Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden will contend for SEC Freshman of the Year. Last month, he inked a deal with his favorite chip company. There are NIL opportunities, especially for these top-ranked recruits who flourish at the collegiate level. Other names to keep an eye on include Klubnik, Texas A&M wideout Evan Stewart, LSU linebacker Harold Perkins and Travis Hunter at Jackson State. Three of them are in markets made for NIL. And Hunter is playing for Deion Sanders at Jackson State. Brands will buy in during the season, but players who put work in on the field and grow their social media following will be rewarded.