Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young has yet to start a game for the Crimson Tide, but according to coach Nick Saban, he’s already raking in nearly $1 million in deals under the new name, image and likeness (NIL) policy.
“Certain positions, probably, enhance opportunities to create value, like quarterback, and our quarterback (Young) already has approached ungodly numbers — I’m not going to say what they are — and he hasn’t even played yet. Hasn’t even started,” Saban said at the Texas High School Coaches Association’s annual convention on Tuesday. “… It’s almost seven figures. And it’s like, the guy hasn’t even played yet. But that’s because of our brand.”
Young, Alabama’s presumptive starter for the 2021 season, played in seven games in 2020 as Mac Jones’ backup and attempted 22 passes. He was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2020, per 247Sports’ Composite Rating.
College athletes in all states are now able to receive compensation for their names, images and likenesses following an interim policy that went into effect July 1. The next day, Young signed with Creative Artists Agency to work with him on his marketing deals.
“You have to understand that everybody has a different amount of opportunity, relative to what’s going to happen here,” Saban said. “Everything in college football, everything in high school football has always been equal for everyone. It’s not gonna be that way anymore.”
“Aaron Rodgers makes $24 million a year and probably makes several million dollars in endorsements because he’s the quarterback,” he added. “The right guard probably makes a million dollars a year, and he doesn’t get any money for endorsements. The same thing is going to happen to our team.”
Asked later Tuesday about Saban’s comment, Ole Miss head coach and former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin told reporters, “That number just blew me away. (Young has) made a million dollars and hasn’t started a game yet.”
Kiffin came back to the subject unprompted later in the news conference, after he was asked an unrelated question.
“I’m still blown away on this Bryce Young,” Kiffin said. “This guy’s made a million dollars already? That’s good, man. He don’t need to play next year against us, then. I mean, that’s mind blowing.”