On3 NIL Valuation: Which Notre Dame offensive players top the list?

With the onset of name, image and likeness (NIL) rule changes, college football players are now able to profit off of their collegiate athletic careers.

On3 has developed the On3 NIL Valuation, a tool which helps athletes, parents, coaches and fans better understand the complicated topic.

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.

The NIL valuation is comprised of a number of dynamic data points that focus on two primary factors – an athlete’s social media presence and their level of athletic performance.

A base valuation is generated from the number of followers on each social media platform an athlete has (Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok). Each platform is weighted differently based on the number of marketing dollars that brands and advertisers typically spend on each.

From there, an athlete receives boosts or penalties for factors such as engagement on the platforms, college prestige, position, individual rankings, legacy, achievements, media and NIL deals.

Here is a look at the top-10 NIL valuations Notre Dame players have on the offensive side of the ball.

Note: The list includes players on the 2022 roster only.

9t. WR Joe Wilkins – $21,000

Wilkins will be a fifth-year receiver on the 2022 team. He announced his return for another season after an October MCL injury sidelined him for the rest of 2021. The veteran, who was originally recruited to Notre Dame as a defensive back, has the chance to become even more of a leader in the locker room this season.

9t. WR Lorenzo Styles – $21,000

Styles has been around for just one season, but it was a promising one. His best game came against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl, where the true freshman caught eight passes for 136 yards and his first career touchdown. The performance certainly contributed to his following and NIL valuation. He is becoming a more popular name amongst the Irish faithful; an 11 percent NIL valuation increase signals that.

8. RB Logan Diggs – $25,000

Surprisingly, Diggs is actually Notre Dame’s leading returning running back in terms of rushing yards for 2022. The explosive flashes during his freshman season contributed to his popularity, and that popularity will only continue to grow in his second year in South Bend. Outside of Michael Mayer, Diggs’ five-week NIL valuation increase is the greatest (14 percent).

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7. WR Braden Lenzy – $29,000

Like Wilkins, 2022 will be Lenzy’s fifth year in South Bend. Lenzy leads the wide receivers in terms of NIL valuation, coming in at just under $30,000. Additionally, the Oregon native falls just outside of the top 1,000 players in college football in terms of NIL valuation at No. 1,003. He is one of the most exciting players on the team, due in large part to his speed.

If Lenzy can become a more frequent contributor in the Irish offense in 2022, there is no doubt his NIL valuation would increase in his fifth year with the program.

5t. RB Audric Estime – $30,000

Estime is tied with Angeli for the No. 5 spot and has plenty of promise for 2022. The 5-foot-11, 228-pound bullying running back saw limited action in 2021, but expect to see more of him next season. He is a near-perfect running back for goal-line situations.

5t. QB Steve Angeli – $30,000

Angeli’s ranking shows the power of the quarterback position. Despite having never played a snap for the Irish, Angeli has the No. 5 NIL valuation on the offense. He leads the 2022 class in the measure, with 2022’s top Irish recruit Jaylen Sneed trailing just behind at $26,000.

4. RB Chris Tyree – $37,000

Tyree had an underwhelming 2021 season due in part to a nagging turf toe injury that caused him to miss time. Despite the tribulations, Notre Dame running back is a pretty visible position, and it shows in his NIL valuation. According to On3, an Instagram post from Tyree is worth $254, which is second on the offense behind Mayer.

If he can stay healthy, the all-purpose back could see a huge bump in popularity in 2022. He certainly has the talent for it.

3. QB Drew Pyne – $43,000

Like Buchner, Pyne has not started a game at Notre Dame. However, his popularity and name recognition rose last season during the quarterback debate between former Irish starter Jack Coan, Tyler Buchner and Pyne. As spring practice and summer camp begin and the quarterback battle heats up, expect Pyne to become even more of a big name in Irish circles.

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2. QB Tyler Buchner – $47,000

Despite having never started a game at Notre Dame, the presumed 2021 starting quarterback comes in at No. 2 in the rankings on the offensive side of the ball. According to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Buchner was the No. 8 player from California and the No. 91 player overall coming out of La Jolla (Calif.) Helix. His popularity as a high school recruit undoubtedly contributed to his NIL valuation.

1. TE Michael Mayer – $157,000

Unsurprisingly, the likely first-round 2023 NFL Draft selection has the highest NIL valuation on the entire team. He also has the biggest social media following (34,000 on the three aforementioned platforms) and has had the biggest five-week increase in his NIL valuation (44 percent).

At No. 52, Mayer is the only Notre Dame football player ranked in the top 100 in the national NIL football rankings. Additionally, he is No. 71 in the NIL100 rankings, which include football and basketball players at both the college and high school levels.