On3 NIL Elite Series Live: Kirk Herbstreit, Olivia Dunne set to speak to top recruits
The best-of-the-best high school football prospects in the 2024 recruiting class are in Nashville for the On3 NIL Elite Series presented by Mizuno, the first event under the On3 OS division. The On3 NIL Elite Series is aimed to give each athlete and their family an education on the NIL climate they’ll soon enter in college. On3 is covering every angle of the event, with multiple reporters on the ground covering NIL to the latest on each athlete’s recruitment. This blog will be updated throughout Wednesday day with news, interviews and observations.
‘Have character versus being a character’
9:30 a.m. Wednesday – On3 Founder and CEO Shannon Terry talked with the star recruits and parents in attendance at the On3 NIL Elite Series about how important it is to have character versus being a character.
“You must prove yourself all over again,” Terry said. “The starting point is now. The standard for you guys is higher than a college student. You don’t need to try to be cool in college. Let the frat boys and sorority people play that. You are special. You have a job. You have a mission.
“You must be professional. Think about having character versus being a character. That’s the game you’re in. Like it or not. It’s a blessing and a curse. But that is your responsibility and your opportunity at this point in time. More is expected of you. Stars matter. But you don’t want to be the guy that says, ‘Wow, I wasted that opportunity.’”
On3 NIL Elite Series has officially started
9 a.m. Wednesday – The On3 NIL Elite Series is officially underway with ESPN’s Tom Hart kicking things off. The day will be filled with plenty of NIL education and is highlighted by keynote speakers Kirk Herbstreit and LSU gymnast and social influencer Livvy Dunne.
On3 NIL Elite Series player packs are sweet
8:45 a.m. Wednesday – The On3 NIL Elite Series sponsors stepped up to make sure the top prospects in attendance are looking good and well-fed.
5-star QB DJ Lagway talks Florida pitch, NIL
8:30 a.m. Wednesday – DJ Lagway is well aware he is a five-star quarterback committed to Florida. But as he spends time thinking about NIL opportunities and his brand, he wants to be approachable. And he wants people to understand who he is away from football. Read about how the future Gator’s signal-caller is juggling building his brand and success on the football field.
Latest recruiting intel from On3 NIL Elite Series
7:30 a.m. Wednesday – Chad Simmons, On3’s Director of Recruiting, uncovered plenty of recruiting scoop during the first day of the On3 NIL Elite Series, including Tennessee trending for a pair of five-star receivers and Miami is in a position to flip two committed five-stars.
Get the latest intel from Simmons in this On3+ story.
Recapping 1st day of On3 NIL Elite Series
7 a.m. Wednesday – Tuesday was check-in day at the On3 NIL Elite Series, and there were plenty of headlines from the event that featured so many elite football recruits in the Class of 2024. To get the full recap, be sure to check out our live blog from Tuesday. But here are some of the highlights:
A highly touted 2024 recruit at the On3 NIL Elite Series said they were quick to call out bullshit with NIL in recruiting.
“One school, when they found out they weren’t in my top five, they threw out a big number,” the recruit that asked to not be identified told On3’s Pete Nakos.
When it comes to NIL, Florida quarterback commitment DJ Lagway said it’s a family affair.
“My dad handles all that,” Lagway said. “I leave that all to him. I just really just focus on playing ball and just getting better every day.”
Five-Star Plus+ defensive back KJ Bolden of Buford, Georgia, said he’s quickly figured out how to weed out schools that are overstating their ability to help student-athletes succeed through NIL.
“If a school is telling you that you’re going to get millions or in the millions range, that’s quarterback money,” Bolden said Tuesday after arriving for the On3 NIL Elite Series. “Receivers and safeties, we’re like in the $700K, $600K-ish range. Schools always tell me in those ranges there. I had a school tell me, ‘We’re going to get you $2 million during the first year.’ Come on. Some schools you know are lying. Some schools you know who’s for real.”
And at the end of the day, the recruits battled in the winner take all Madden NFL 23 head-to-head tournament, powered by Hyperluxe Gaming. You can watch it below or on On3’s YouTube channel.
Kirk Herbstreit to talk about football’s impact
6:45 a.m. Wednesday – Nationally known football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will also be a speaker today at the On3 NIL Elite Series.
Herbstreit has a multi-faceted role with ESPN which includes College GameDay. He is also an analyst for ABC’s Primetime College Football Game of the Week. In addition to Herbstreit being the Face of College Football, he also serves as an analyst for Amazon’s coverage of the NFL on Thursday Night Football.
Herbstreit will speak to the invitation-only group of elite football players and their parents from the Class of 2024 about how football can impact their lives.
“College football is such an important part of the fabric of the sports landscape,” Herbstreit said. “These players will become the leaders of our game and will carry a responsibility at a very young age. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with the players and parents about the unique era we are currently seeing.
“These young men have so much thrown at them and so many people talking to them. On3 has built a unique event to provide both information and perspective. I want to convey the importance of college football and how it can positively impact their lives.”
Olivia Dunne excited to share her ‘NIL journey’
6:30 a.m. Wednesday – LSU gymnast and social influencer Livvy Dunne will be a featured speaker at the On3 NIL Elite Series today. She’ll share how she has built her valuation. She’ll also talk about what she has learned since the inception of NIL. The most followed college athlete on social media, Dunne has a $3.4 million On3 NIL Valuation. She also has a multi-year agreement with Vuori Clothing.
“I’m really excited to attend the On3 NIL Elite Series to discuss my NIL journey with the top high school prospects in the country,” Dunne said. “On3 has been so supportive of student-athletes and I hope to continue that momentum with them. Nashville is one of my favorite cities and I can’t wait to get back for this event!”
Top On3 NIL Valuations at On3 NIL Elite Series
6:15 a.m. Wednesday – With so many talented recruits in attendance, it’s no surprise that most of the top student-athletes with high On3 NIL Valuations will also be at the On3 NIL Elite Series.
On3 has a look at the valuations of every player at the event. The headliner is Florida Gators’ quarterback commitment DJ Lagway. He has an On3 NIL Valuation of $620,000. Five-Star Plus+ receiver and Ohio State pledge Jeremiah Smith is also high on the list with a $452,000 On3 NIL Valuation.
Inaugural On3 NIL Elite Series kicked off Tuesday
6 a.m. Wednesday – Twenty-two of the top 100 prospects in the 2024 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, arrived in Nashville for the On3 NIL Elite Series. The event aims to give each athlete and their family an education on the NIL climate they’ll soon enter in college. Six of the athletes in attendance are able to monetize their publicity rights as high schoolers. Held at the Thompson Hotel in downtown Nashville, invitations to the event have been extended to athletes and a guardian.
“This event facilitates information and transparency into the marketplace for these athletes,” On3’s Athlete Network Development director Grant Frerking said. “Our goal is to create more opportunities to educate and prepare athletes to navigate a marketplace that is projected to grow to nearly $5 billion over the next few years.”
On3’s Pete Nakos has more details about what to expect Wednesday.
Make sure to follow along on Twitter and subscribe to On3’s YouTube page. Also, be sure to subscribe to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter.
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