The landscape of college football is changing fast. One of the biggest shifts lately? Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals.
These new agreements let college athletes make money from their personal brand. High school football stars are already cashing in, believe it or not.
Below, I’ll run through the top 11 high school football players with the highest NIL valuations, plus where they’re headed for the 2026 and 2027 recruiting cycles. These young athletes aren’t just great on the field—they’ve got real pull on social media, too. That combo makes them super attractive to sponsors.
Let’s take a look at these future college football stars and their projected earnings. Some of these numbers are wild.
Top High School Football Players by NIL Valuation
NIL valuations are based on a mix of on-field success, social media reach, and how marketable a player is. Here are the top 11 high school football players with the highest NIL valuations right now:
1. Elijah Haven – Alabama
Position: Quarterback
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $1 million
Elijah Haven sits at the top of the 2027 quarterback rankings, according to ESPN. He’s a five-star from Louisiana, widely considered the state’s best player.
Instead of staying local, Haven committed to Alabama in April. He’s got over 25,000 followers across X and Instagram, and his NIL valuation is a cool $1 million.
2. Lyons – BYU
Position: Quarterback
Recruiting Class: 2026
NIL Valuation: $1 million
Lyons is a four-star recruit and one of the top six quarterbacks in the 2026 class. Nationally, he’s ranked in the Top 75.
He signed with BYU last August, following his brother, who’s already a Cougar. Lyons is huge on social media—almost 500K followers on TikTok, 9,000 on X, and 287K on Instagram. That’s helped push his NIL value to $1 million.
3. Iheanacho – Oregon
Position: Offensive Lineman
Recruiting Class: 2026
NIL Valuation: $1.2 million
Iheanacho, a Maryland native, is a five-star offensive lineman and a top 10 player in his class. He’s also the second-best at his position for 2026.
This guy is massive—6-foot-7 and 380 pounds. He’s committed to Oregon, and even though he hasn’t enrolled yet, his NIL valuation is already at $1.2 million. He’s got 12.2K followers on Instagram and 4,800 on X.
4. Matthews – Texas A&M
Position: Offensive Lineman
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $837K
Matthews is the top offensive lineman in the 2027 class and ranks fifth overall. He committed to Texas A&M in May.
With about 7,800 followers between Instagram and X, his NIL valuation sits at $837K.
5. Hackett – Oklahoma
Position: Offensive Lineman
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $737K
Hackett, a five-star from Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, is Rivals’ No. 2 tackle for 2027. He first committed to Texas Tech, then flipped to Oklahoma last September.
Even though he reportedly took less NIL money to play for the Sooners, his valuation is still $737K. He’s got 4,400 Instagram followers and 3,500 on X.
6. Abrams – Miami
Position: Quarterback
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $713K
Abrams is a four-star quarterback, ranked No. 2 in the 2027 class and No. 2 in Illinois. He committed to Miami in April.
With nearly 15,000 followers across Instagram, X, and TikTok, his NIL valuation has hit $713K.
7. Olubobola – Notre Dame
Position: Offensive Lineman
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $709K
Olubobola is a five-star recruit and New Jersey’s top player. The 6-foot-6 tackle committed to Notre Dame in May.
He’s got 2,800 Instagram followers and 2,100 on X, helping drive his $709K NIL valuation.
8. Mencl – Oregon
Position: Quarterback
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $683K
Mencl, a quarterback out of Arizona, headlines the 2027 class. Rivals puts him as the nation’s top QB and the 13th-best prospect overall.
He committed to Oregon in April. Mencl’s got 1,800 followers on X and 4,800 on Instagram, landing him a $683K NIL valuation.
9. Hudson – LSU
Position: Tight End
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $644K
Hudson is the top-ranked tight end in the country and a five-star from Louisiana. He committed to LSU in May.
He’s a Top 25 player nationally, with 6,200 followers on X and 22K on Instagram. His NIL valuation is $644K.
10. Penny – Oklahoma
Position: Offensive Lineman
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $634K
Penny, a five-star offensive lineman from Bixby, Oklahoma, committed to the Sooners last September. He’s the second-best player in Oklahoma and a Top 25 talent overall.
Penny’s NIL valuation is $634K, with 2,100 fans on X and 2,400 on Instagram.
11. Bryant – Texas Tech
Position: Quarterback
Recruiting Class: 2027
NIL Valuation: $613K
Bryant is a four-star quarterback who committed to Texas Tech last November. ESPN ranks him as the No. 2 passer in the 2027 class and the sixth-best player in Texas.
He’s got 4,300 followers on X and 13.5K on Instagram. His NIL valuation sits at $613K, which is honestly pretty wild for a high school athlete.
For more on these high school football players and their NIL numbers, check out the original article on BroBible.
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