Transfer portal quarterbacks lead way in On3 NIL Valuation updates

It’s been well established in the NIL Era that acquiring talent at premium positions through the transfer portal is going to cost. And the latest On3 NIL Valuations update showcases once again that quarterbacks command the market.

After last week’s valuations featured significant increases from running backs, receivers, offensive tackles and EDGEs in the transfer portal, updates Wednesday were dominated by quarterbacks. The new numbers indicate that 13 transfer signal-callers saw their On3 NIL Valuation bump by more than $300,000.

As On3 reported this past May, high school bidding wars underwent a market reset. The portal is now seeing that. The dollars haven’t stopped flowing. It’s become clearer what talent at certain positions costs, which are indicated by the latest On3 NIL Valuations.

Even Nebraska coach Matt Rhule was blunt about the price of landing an elite quarterback in college football’s free agency. A steep price tag was echoed by other head coaches, including Minnesota’s PJ Fleck.

2024 College Football Transfer Portal Rankings

Here’s a look at some of the biggest movers in the updated On3 NIL Valuations.

Aidan Chiles

On3 NIL Valuation: $863,000
On3 NIL 100 Rank: No. 40
Increase over last week: $709,000

A former four-star recruit out of Downey, California, Aidan Chiles is appealing to recruiters because he has shown he can make plays against quality teams in the Pac-12. Don’t forget he was compared to Jordan Love when he was coming out of the prep ranks in the Class of 2023. Plus, he’s just a freshman, so he will have time to make a significant impact wherever he lands.

That combination is a significant factor in why his On3 NIL Valuation saw a massive increase this week.

Michigan State is listed as the team to beat for Chiles at this point, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Dante Moore

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1 million
On3 NIL 100 Rank: No. 24
Increase over last week: $627,000

Much like Chiles, Dante Moore entered the portal with multiple years of eligibility and success during his true freshman season on his resume. The former Five-Star Plus+ prospect out of Detroit Martin Luther King threw for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Bruins.

Moore dipped his toe into the NIL space with a partnership with Leaf Trading Cards earlier this fall. Plus, he has a massive social media presence with more than 46,000 followers on Instagram.

All of those factors – especially his potential on the field – have driven his On3 NIL Valuation to $1.1 million.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Moore will arrive in Eugene on Thursday for a visit to Oregon.

Cam Ward

On3 NIL Valuation: $1.1 million
On3 NIL 100 Rank: No. 23
Increase over last week: $530,000

In a flood of quarterbacks entering the portal, former Washington State signal-caller Cam Ward ranks as the best still on the market.

Ward spent the last two seasons on The Palouse after transferring to Washington State from Division II Incarnate Word. He started 25 games for the Cougars, throwing for more than 6,400 yards and 43 touchdowns while adding 11 more scores on the ground.

Ward’s proven track record makes him a valuable commodity in the portal. It means he’ll essentially be able to name his price and the new $1.1 million On3 NIL Valuation is right on the money.

Miami made a big impression on Ward after an official visit this week. Multiple sources told Nakos that Florida State will get an official visit starting on Thursday.

Ty Thompson

On3 NIL Valuation: $542,000
On3 College Football NIL Rank: No. 90
Increase over last week: $453,000

After arriving at Oregon as a five-star prospect, Ty Thompson never saw much success over three seasons with the Ducks. He leaves Eugene with a stat line of 42-of-66 for 456 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Yet, he was a five-star prospect who led his high school team to back-to-back state championships. He finished his high school career with 9,891 yards and 100 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,145 yards and 20 scores on the ground.

He has value to programs in the hunt for a signal-caller and the fact that he’s not a one-and-done prospect boosts his stock. All of those factors play into his strong On3 NIL Valuation increase this week.

Tyler Van Dyke

On3 NIL Valuation: $735,000
On3 NIL 100 Rank: No. 64
Increase over last week: $403,000

Former Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was one the first football players in the country that generated national NIL headlines with his deal through Life Wallet and another partnership that allowed him to drive a BMW 750i Sport. Those were significant headlines early on in 2022, but they’re now the norm in today’s NIL marketplace.

Van Dyke didn’t spend too much time on the open market, announcing his commitment to Wisconsin earlier this week.

A three-year starter for the Hurricanes, he’s thrown for 7,478 yards and 54 touchdowns. It’s a win for Luke Fickell and staff, too. While the Badgers landed Tanner Mordecai a year ago in the portal, the quarterback position did not pan out perfectly.

Former Oklahoma transfer Nick Evers is also still in the quarterback room.

But make no mistake, Van Dyke’s move to Madison comes with the intent of him making an impact for the Badgers. And that intent is what drove his value in the updated numbers.

About the On3 NIL Valuation

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value

While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career.

The On3 NIL Valuation accounts for an athlete’s roster value and brand value. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. Brand value factors in an athlete’s personal brand and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.