Ranking Michigan's 2024 commits using On3's NIL valuations

Consistency of winning, consecutive Big Ten Championships and back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances have allowed the rosters athletes on the Michigan football team to capitalize off their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and build more opportunities off their brand through monetization.

The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

The algorithm that collects data off an athlete’s brand and roster value comprises of three primary factors – performance, influence and exposure. How a recruit does on the field, their presence on social media (Twitter, Instagram and TikTok), as well as where the recruit attends high school and college greatly affects the predicted market available for the player.

As momentum continues to swing the way of Michigan this cycle, The Wolverine takes a look at the top 10 On3 NIL valuations for the 2024 recruiting class.

1. QB Jadyn Davis – $587K

Jadyn Davis made his public commitment on ESPN’s SportsCenter a little more than 24 hours before Michigan’s spring game earlier this month. Taking five total unofficial visits to Ann Arbor going back to June of last year, Davis and his family connected well with Michigan quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell on his March return and went ahead with a decision shortly afterwards. 

2. TE Brady Prieskorn – $126K

Brady Prieskorn dropped a Top 8 list in mid-March that included Michigan and later went back to campus that same week to be with the coaching staff again. Prieskorn was long regarded as the top tight end target on Michigan’s board this cycle with assistant coach Grant Newsome now locking in two commits at the position in back-to-back classes. 

3. RB Jordan Marshall – $124K

Jordan Marshall originally planned to schedule a commitment date during the month of July but shut down his recruitment shortly following a third unofficial visit to Michigan last month. Beating out Ohio State in a highly publicized fashion, running backs coach Mike Hart led the efforts to establish close relationships and daily communication with Marshall and his parents. 

4. OT Andrew Sprague – $107K

Andrew Sprague was in attendance for Michigan’s spring game event and spent quite a bit of time with the verbal commits who were also at The Big House. Heavy talks with offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore, as well as his close friendship with 2023 athlete signee Kendrick Bell, paved the way to Sprague joining the two-time reigning Joe Moore Award winning group in Ann Arbor. 

5. TE Hogan Hansen – $100K

Hogan Hansen took an unofficial visit to Michigan in mid-October for the Penn State game and got onboard a few weeks before Christmas Day. The leaders of Ford Sports Performance, a training facility based in the Pacific Northwest that works year-round with Hansen, have built a strong connection with multiple members on Michigan’s coaching staff, including Grant Newsome and director of recruiting operations Albert Karschnia. 

6. DB Jacob Oden – $89K

Jacob Oden has known Michigan co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale throughout much of his childhood and their correspondence spawned into something greater when Oden became a Power 5-bound football player. Becoming the first in-state prospect in the 2024 class to join the Wolverines, Oden has taken a total of 13 unofficial visits throughout his entire recruitment process. His most recent appearance took place for the annual spring game in early April.

7. LB Mason Curtis – $80K

Mason Curtis holds the title of being the first 2024 prospect to commit to Michigan back in June of last year. Right before the summer dead period, Curtis and his family made the trip up to Ann Arbor, which resulted in the versatile defender falling in love with the program. The Nashville based training organization that works with Curtis – National Players Academy – holds a longtime relationship with Steve Clinkscale and has also produced sophomore linebacker Junior Colson. 

8. OT Blake Frazier – $67K

Blake Frazier is the son of former Michigan starting center Steve Frazier, who snapped for future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Holding off signifiant pushes from the Texas powerhouses and other Power 5 elites, Michigan brought up Frazier and his family to campus for a multi-day unofficial visit in mid-March, ultimately claiming its fourth offensive line commit almost a month later. 

T9. DL Jerod Smith – $46K

Jerod Smith was heavily favorited last week to commit to Michigan once defensive line coach Mike Elston visited his school to begin the spring evaluation period and when the four-star took an unofficial visit last month. The Wolverines beat out Notre Dame, who for several months, was a major lean to take Smith’s talents to South Bend. Smith is now set to return to Ann Arbor with his brother, On300 EDGE Jacob Smith, on June 2nd when the latter will take his official visit.

T9. IOL Luke Hamilton – $46K

Luke Hamilton ended up being the third of four connective Ohio natives to commit to Michigan in span of four days. The other three were 2023 targets. Hamilton went to social media the day after the Ohio State win last season to announce his decision, becoming the first junior out of Ohio to enter the group. Hamilton has rightfully earned the honor of being an outstanding player recruiter behind the scenes as his multiple returns to campus since the November commitment have gotten him close to many other 2024 commits and key targets.

T9. DL Ted Hammond – $46K

Ted Hammond wasted little time to commit to Michigan in January, which was the same month in which the pass rusher was offered by Mike Elston and returned to campus for the team’s Junior Day event. As a fellow native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Hammond was key with helping bring Jordan Marshall into the fold.

The Rest

12. OL Ben Roebuck – 26K

13. OL Jake Guarnera – 24K

14. LB Zach Ludwig – 19K

15. DL Manuel Beigel – 18K