The ability for college athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness is likely coming in 2021.
Nebraska football has already started planning for it with the advent of its Ready Now program, which includes a partnership with locally based Opendorse.
In a recent 538 story, Opendorse cofounder Blake Lawrence shared some Nebraska-specific data that showed the top potential earner from social media alone — so no other forms of profit, whether they be from other forms of marketing, commercials, autographs, etc. included — and the numbers are significant.
Using a combination of social media following (read: earning potential) and projected opportunities, Lawrence suggested NU junior quarterback Adrian Martinez could make $153,147 in a year from social media alone.