The NCAA recently opened the door for student-athletes to make money off their names, images or likeness (NIL). If that proposed rule change goes through, college football players like Sam Ehlinger could profit big time.
Sam Ehlinger could make almost $1 million per year
As the face of the Texas Longhorns — one of the most popular college football teams in the nation — Ehlinger has a massive following on social media. When he tweets, people engage.
Based on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, Ehlinger has roughly 197,000 followers on the two social media platforms. Per Jeff Tracy of Axios.com, the influence he carries could lead to a financial windfall.
Tracy spoke with Blake Lawrence, CEO of Opendorse — a social publishing platform that helps athletes build their brands. Lawrence estimates that Ehlinger could make $962,000 per year on his social media accounts alone. That estimate is “based on actual data from the last decade of providing the technology behind millions of dollars of transactions between brands and professional athletes,” per Lawrence.
Other top athletes who could rake in the cash due to social media include LSU receiver La’Marr Chase ($263,000), Duke basketball star Tre Jones ($250,000), and incoming freshman Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei ($81,000).