Pair of Texas A&M targets see their NIL valuations rise in a big way

NIL has become closely associated with high school recruiting and the transfer portal. Collectives have popped up across the country with an emphasis on raising funds for roster retention, which sends a clear message to recruits. 

As the 2024 recruiting cycle comes into focus, programs are starting to fine-tune their recruiting boards. The nation’s top prospects have spent the past month taking unofficial visits across the country and slowly putting together their list of top schools. June will be filled with camps and official visits. 

Here’s a look at two Texas A&M targets who saw their valuations jump this week with the latest shuffling of rankings. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index and sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes.

Five-star DL Dominick McKinley

Lafayette (La.) Acadiana
On3 Industry ranking: No. 19
On3 NIL Valuation: $229,000
Increase over last week: $105,000
High School Football NIL Rankings: No. 38

Dominick McKinley‘s stock continues to rise. He is now a five-star recruit and has taken visits to Alabama and Texas A&M in the past few weeks. A 6-foot-5, 280-pounder, he played multiple spots on the defensive line this past season for Acadiana. He’s also shown his strength in track and field, posting three shot put throws of more than 47 meters this spring. McKinley is giving the Tide and Aggies a serious look, along with Miami, Texas and Oklahoma. But home-state LSU is sitting in the top position ahead of a big summer of visits. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, LSU has a 93.2 

Four-star QB Air Noland

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes
On3 Industry ranking: No. 11
On3 NIL Valuation: $247,000
Increase over last week: $62,000
High School Football NIL Rankings: No. 35

Air Noland has set his commitment date for April 8, though a lot could change in the next nine days. The No. 11 prospect in the 2024 class is set to visit Ohio State this weekend. And while he does not yet hold an offer from the Buckeyes, an Ohio State offer could shake up his recruitment. OSU made his cut of top schools even without an offer. He’s set to visit Alabama on Monday. Clemson is the rumored leader in his recruitment. He threw for 4,095 yards and 55 scores while completing 73 percent of his passes in 2022. He’s earned comparisons to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.

About the On3 NIL Valuation

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value

While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career. The On3 NIL Valuation calculates the optimized NIL opportunity for athletes relative to the overall NIL market and projects out to as long as 12 months into the future.

The On3 NIL Valuation accounts for an athlete’s roster value and brand value. Roster value is the value an athlete has by being a member of his or her team at his or her school, which factors into the role of NIL collectives. Brand value factors in an athlete’s personal brand and the value it could bring to regional and national brands outside of the scope of NIL collectives.

The On3 NIL Valuation is publicly available. Performance, Influence, and Exposure ratings along with the athlete’s personal Brand Value Index and Roster Value Index are available only to the athlete in the “Athlete Verified” private dashboard on the On3 Athlete Network.