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20 Highest Paid College Athletes

The world of college athletics has stepped into a new era, and I find it fascinating. This transformative landscape empowers student-athletes like never before, allowing them to leverage their talents and brands for unprecedented financial opportunities. With the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, the entire landscape of college athletics has undergone a seismic shift. This groundbreaking initiative has shattered the long-held tradition of amateurism, opening doors for student-athletes to leverage their brand and name, earning substantial income through various partnerships and endorsements. It’s remarkable to witness a new era where some college athletes command financial compensation rivaling that of professional athletes.

In this article, I delve into the intriguing world of the 20 highest-paid college athletes in 2023. Together, let’s embark on a journey to explore the diverse range of talent and popularity within college sports. I’ll be highlighting athletes from different disciplines who have seized the NIL opportunity. Through their stories, we’ll uncover the factors contributing to their impressive valuations and consider the potential impact this has on the future of college athletics.

1. Bronny James – $6.1 million

Bronny James is an American college basketball player for the USC Trojans of the Pac-12 Conference. A consensus four-star recruit, he was named a McDonald’s All-American as a senior in high school in 2023. James is the eldest child of professional basketball player LeBron James.

2. Shedeur Sanders – $4.1 million

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Shedeur Sanders is an American football quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes. He played for the Jackson State Tigers, where he won the Jerry Rice Award and Deacon Jones Trophy before transferring in 2023. 

Sanders is the youngest son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.

3. Livvy Dunne – $3.2 million

Livvy Dunne is an American artistic gymnast and social media personality. A former USA national team member and a current member of the LSU Tigers women’s gymnastics team. 

Dunne’s social media following of over 10 million has resulted in endorsement deals for her name, image, and likeness totalling seven figures.

4. Arch Manning – $2.9 million

Arch Manning is an American football quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. He is a member of the Manning family. In 2022, Manning signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Texas and committed on June 23, 2023. After playing in the spring game for Team Orange, Manning did not win the starting job. Quinn Ewers was named the starting quarterback and Maalik Murphy was named the backup.

Manning made his collegiate debut on November 24, 2023, during the third quarter of a blowout win against Texas Tech, completing 2-of-5 passing attempts for 30 yards. Days later, it was reported that former Ohio State running back, Maurice Clarett, was recruiting Manning to join OSU.

5. Caleb Williams – $2.6 million

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Caleb Williams is an American football quarterback for the USC Trojans. Williams played for the Oklahoma Sooners as a freshman in 2021 before transferring to USC. With the Trojans, he won several Player of the Year awards in 2022, including the Heisman Trophy, after throwing for 4,537 yards with a school-record 52 total touchdowns, 42 passing and 10 rushings.

6. Travis Hunter – $1.8 million

Travis Hunter is an American football cornerback and wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes. He previously played for the Jackson State Tigers, where he was the highest-ranked prospect to ever commit to an HBCU or FCS program. Hunter transferred to Colorado in 2023, where he won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football.

7. Evan Stewart – $1.7 million

Evan Stewart is an American football wide receiver for the Texas A&M Aggies. He played in the 2022 Under Armour All-America Game. Stewart also was a member of the track and field team that won the Texas 5A long jump championship and placed second in the triple jump as a junior. Stewart joined the Texas A&M Aggies as an early enrollee in January 2022 and participated in spring practices.

8. Angel Reese – $1.7 million

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Angel Reese is an American college basketball player for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. Reese attended Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was awarded McDonald’s All-American honours in 2020 and was ranked the number two player in her class by ESPN.

Reese set the NCAA single-season record in double-doubles and the SEC single-season record in rebounds. At the international level, Reese helped the United States win a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. She is estimated to be one of the top earners among college athletes from name, image and likeness deals.

9. Drake Maye – $1.5 million

Drake Maye is an American football quarterback. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Entering his freshman season third on the depth chart, Maye played little in 2021. He redshirted, appearing in four games throughout the season, the maximum amount allowed for players desiring to keep their redshirt. 

When starter Sam Howell was injured and unable to play against Wofford, Maye saw the most extended action of his career to that point. Projected to be a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Maye entered his name into the draft pool following the conclusion of the Tar Heels’ regular season. He will not play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

10. Bo Nix  – $1.4 million

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Bo Nix is an American football quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. He played with the Auburn Tigers before transferring in 2022. In 2023, Nix was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, won the William V. Campbell Trophy, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy after throwing for over 4,100 yards with 40 touchdowns.

11. Marvin Harrison Jr. – $1.3 million

Marvin Harrison Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia before enrolling at Ohio State, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won several awards and honours such as the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award. He is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison and is considered to be among the best prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.

12. Michael Penix Jr. – $1.3 million

Michael Penix Jr. is an American football quarterback for the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 Conference. He previously played for the Indiana Hoosiers of the Big Ten Conference before transferring to Washington in 2022. He won the Maxwell Award in 2023 after leading Washington to the College Football Playoff and was the runner–up for the Heisman Trophy. On December 4, 2022, Penix announced on Twitter that he would return to the Huskies for the 2023 season.

13. Bryce James – $1.2 million

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Bryce James is an American basketball player. He is the second child of National Basketball Association player LeBron James. Bryce primarily plays the shooting guard position. In December 2022, he signed a Name, Image and Likeness contract with Klutch Sports. 

14. Quinn Ewers – $1.2 million

Quinn Ewers is an American football quarterback for the Texas Longhorns. Ewers attended Ohio State University in 2021 before transferring to Texas in 2022, where he became their starter. He is noted for being the first amateur athlete to land a Name, Image and Likeness deal worth over US$1 million.

15. Hansel Emmanuel – $1.2 million

Hansel Emmanuel is a Dominican college basketball player for the Austin Peay Governors of the ASUN Conference. He played high school basketball at Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Florida and committed to play college basketball at Northwestern State, transferring after his freshman season.

He went viral in early 2021 for his flashy dunks, passes, three-pointers and athleticism against top high school talent despite having only one arm due to a childhood incident.

16. Jordan Travis – $1.2 million

Jordan Travis is an American football quarterback who plays college football for the Florida State Seminoles and previously played football for the Louisville Cardinals. In 2018 Travis announced he would be transferring to Florida State. He has spent four seasons with the Florida State Seminoles and announced a return for a fifth season in December 2022. In 2023, Travis was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.

17. Nico Iamaleava – $1.1 million

Nico Iamaleava is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was one of the top players in the 2023 class. Iamaleava attended both Warren High School in Downey, California and Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, CA. As a senior, Iamaleava threw for 1,726 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for six touchdowns. He was named the Polynesian Football Player of the Year.

Iamaleava was also named the MVP of the Polynesian Bowl, throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown. Iamaleava was rated as one of the top players in the class of 2023, and committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.

18. Jared McCain – $1.1 million

Jared McCain is an American college basketball player for the Duke Blue Devils of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class. 

McCain was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class, according to major recruiting services. On March 18, 2022, he committed to playing college basketball for Duke over offers from Gonzaga, Kansas, and Houston.

19. Flau’jae Johnson – $1.1 million

Flau’jae Johnson is an American college basketball player for the LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. Johnson entered her freshman season as LSU’s starting shooting guard. On November 20, 2022, she recorded a season-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists in a 100–45 win over Northwestern State.

As a freshman, Johnson averaged 11 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, helping her team win its first national championship. She was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year. Johnson has a large social media following and is projected as one of the highest-earning athletes from name, image and likeness deals. She has endorsement deals with Puma, Meta, JBL and Taco Bell, among other companies.

20. Blake Corum – $1.1 million

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Blake Corum is an American football running back for the Michigan Wolverines. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football and was named a unanimous All-American in 2022 after rushing for over 1,400 yards with 18 touchdowns.

Corum enrolled at the University of Michigan in January 2020. In his first semester at Michigan, Corum drew praise for both running a 4.4 40-yard dash and earning a 4.0 grade point average. On January 9, 2023, Corum announced that he would be staying at Michigan for another year.

This list showcases the diverse range of talent and popularity within college athletics. It highlights the power of Name, Image, and Likeness deals to elevate the financial standing of athletes, regardless of their sport. As Name, Image, and Likeness regulations continue to evolve, we can expect to see even higher valuations and a more equitable distribution of resources for college athletes in the future.