They are the guys who clear the way for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers to make millions in NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) earnings. They’re the centers, guards and tackles who often are the unsung heroes in college football.
But don’t feel too bad for these guys. Offensive linemen are doing just fine on their own when it comes to making NIL money. In the 2025 college football season, the top offensive tackles are taking in anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million. The top centers and guards are pulling down between $300,000 and $700,000. And those numbers are expected to continue to climb with several top recruits already agreeing to major NIL deals.
Even some backups are earning solid money. The University of Texas’ “Pancake Factory’’ collective pays $50,000 to all offensive linemen on scholarship.
Here’s a look at some of the top NIL earners among offensive linemen:
Jackson Cantwell, Miami Commit
He’s only 17 and still in high school in Missouri. But Cantwell is the beneficiary of the rising amount of NIL money available to offensive linemen. He committed to Miami after being offered a multi-year NIL deal that will pay him close to $2 million in his first season.
Jordan Seaton, Colorado
A massive left tackle (6-foot-5 and 330 pounds), the sophomore already is viewed as one of the nation’s top offensive linemen. Like his college coach Deion Sanders — and many other Colorado players — Seaton knows how to work the NIL game. He has an NIL valuation of $1.9 million and deals with EA Sports, NerdWallet and Taco Bell.
Diego Pounds, Ole Miss
Pounds, a tackle, started his career at North Carolina but moved to Ole Miss for the 2024 season. He now carries a $1.6 million NIL valuation, with the majority coming from the Rebels’ collective.
Spencer Fano, Utah
An in-state product, Fano enjoys huge popularity in Utah, and that’s led to strong local NIL opportunities. Fano is viewed as a likely high NFL Draft pick. He and his brother Logan, a defensive end for Utah, have made significant money off their clothing line — “The Fano Brothers Black Tee.”
Felix Ojo, Texas Tech Commit
One of the top recruits in the Class of 2026, Ojo is poised to become one of the biggest NIL earners in college football. He reportedly has a long-term NIL deal that could be worth over $5 million. The deal is fully guaranteed and structured around a revenue-sharing model that increases with future cap jumps.
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
The Oregon guard previously played at Wyoming and USC before arriving in Eugene prior to this season. His NIL valuation sits at $857,000.
Francis Mauigoa, Miami
The left tackle, originally from Samoa, has seen a dramatic rise in his NIL valuation. Before this season, it was $237,000. Now it stands at $779,000. Mauigoa has used his platform to partner with charities and launched a clothing line to support the Ronald McDonald House.
Isiah World, Oregon
While in the transfer portal prior to the 2025 season, World reportedly received an NIL offer of more than $2 millionfrom an unnamed school. The former Nevada tackle turned it down and chose Oregon. The Ducks offered less (around $1 million), but World picked them because he liked the program and believed it gave him a shot at winning a national title. At 6-foot-8 and 312 pounds, World is projected as a future first-round NFL Draft pick — and eventual multi-millionaire.
Pat Coogan, Indiana
He’s a center, which traditionally means slightly lower earnings than top tackles. But Coogan still does well. He was a known commodity at Notre Dame in 2024 before transferring to Indiana, and that move created new NIL opportunities. Coogan has deals with Mission BBQ and PorkRinds.com, but his most lucrative partnership ties back to baseball. Like many Midwest players, he partnered with CHISOX Athlete, working within the Chicago White Sox community outreach program.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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