Nebraska’s 2023 commits have solid On3 NIL Valuation

NIL has forever changed recruiting, both from a good and controversial standpoint. Yet, with NIL permitted on the high school level in Nebraska and the Cornhuskers building a strong marketplace for its student-athletes, it’s no surprise to see the Big Red’s commitment list has an average On3 NIL Valuation of $12,700.

Nebraska’s NIL value for its commitments is currently seventh in the B1G behind Purdue ($93K), Ohio State ($48K), Penn State ($45K), Michigan and Michigan State ($42K) and Iowa ($14.2K). Purdue’s class has the largest NIL value in the conference largely because it has a commitment from four-star quarterback Rickie Collins – who is still being heavily pursued by other top programs.

While it’s in the middle of the B1G currently, recruits are aware of there are plenty of NIL opportunities available at Nebraska. For example, Nebraska collective Athlete Branding & Marketing, founded last summer and run by former NU football chief of staff Gerrod Lambrecht, said it has raised more than $3.5 million from donors to spend on NIL activities.

Here’s a look at the On3 NIL Valuations for Nebraska’s five 2023 commitments.

The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

TE Benjamin Brahmer

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 30 tight end
On3 NIL Valuation: $18.1K
The Skinny: Three-star Benjamin Brahmer of Pierce, Neb., has an On3 NIL Valuation of $18,100 and has the highest value in the Nebraska class to this point. A central reason for his higher valuation is his legacy. Brahmer is the son of legendary Pierce head football coach Mark Brahmer. He is also the first Division I football player to come out of Pierce since tight end Matt Herian in 2002.

QB William Watson III

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 34 quarterback
On3 NIL Valuation: $12.4K
The Skinny: Three-star quarterback William Watson III out of Springfield (Mass.) Central is the star signal-caller in the Huskers’ 2023 class. Playing that position and heading to a school with solid prestige like Nebraska are central reasons why his value is among the best in the Huskers’ class.

OT Gunnar Gottula

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 38 offensive tackle
On3 NIL Valuation: $12.1K
The Skinny: Lincoln (Neb.) Southeast offensive tackle Gunnar Gottula is the highest-ranked commitment so far in the Huskers’ class. The fact that he’s from a local high school, a coveted recruit with a solid offer list, and his father is a well-known high school coach are key reasons why he has a quality On3 NIL Valuation.

IOL Sam Sledge

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 79 interior offensive lineman
On3 NIL Valuation: $12K
The Skinny: Sam Sledge of Omaha (Neb.) Creighton Prep has several factors that help with his On3 NIL Valuation. Not only is he a star at one of the top high schools in Nebraska. He’s also the first player in school history to be a four-year starter at Creighton Prep. Legacy also plays a factor in his value. He is the son of former Nebraska and All-Big Eight offensive lineman Bob Sledge.

CB Dwight Bootle II

On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 80 cornerback
On3 NIL Valuation: $8.7K
The Skinny: Even though he has the lowest On3 NIL Valuation at this point, Dwight Bootle II is expected to be one of the top impact players in the Nebraska 2023 class. His value has remained steady for weeks now at $8.7K and a social media presence of 2.1K followers on social media.