Name, Image and Likeness deals have already benefitted many college athletes, none perhaps as much as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Young, 19, is presumably the Crimson Tide’s starter for the upcoming season and is reportedly raking in the big bucks. Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned at the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention on Tuesday that Young — who only threw for one touchdown as a freshman last year — has racked up close to $1 million in NIL deals.
“Our QB has already approached ungodly numbers, and he hasn’t even played yet,” Saban said, per Chris Hummer of 247Sports. “If I told you what it is … it’s almost 7-figures.
“And it’s like, the guy hasn’t even played yet. But that’s because of our brand.”
While there is no way to know for sure how much Young has made in endorsements, as most NIL deals do not announce pay, it would not be surprising if the starting quarterback of one of the biggest football schools in the country had earned well into the six-figures. Even though Young has yet to start a game, his presumed position has given him a platform that few athletes ever achieve.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was stunned by just how much money Young has made since NIL began in July.
“That number blew me away. You didn’t prepare me for that. That’s amazing,” Kiffin told reporters at SEC media day on Tuesday. “A million dollars and he hasn’t started a game yet. I don’t even know how to respond for that.
“It is neat the players can make money now and profit off of their hard work and what basically everybody else in America gets to do. So I’m excited about it. I think it’s very challenging trying to figure out how these things happen and what’s legal and what’s not in all that. I was asked earlier about it. I said, I’m excited for it. I wouldn’t want to be compliance departments, but a million dollars, whew.”
Already, Young is represented by Creative Artist Agency and has a deal with Cash App. While many college athletes have a larger social media presence than his 83,000 Instagram followers, it is still nothing to scoff at, as well.