On3’s latest NIL update put Miami quarterback Darian Mensah alone at the top, and the number attached to him is a big one: $6.5 million.
The new rankings come from a model change at On3, which said it has shifted its NIL valuation system from an algorithm-based approach to a deal-based model. The goal, according to On3, is to better reflect current player contract value instead of projecting marketing value, endorsement potential or what had been considered “true NIL.”
Mensah now sits at No. 1 in the NIL 100 under that system. On3 said the Miami QB’s valuation is a major number, and noted that quarterbacks with proven production are the most expensive players in the sport. The outlet also pointed out that Mensah’s value could climb even higher if Miami makes another CFP run.
Behind Mensah, Kentucky power forward Milan Momcilovic and Louisville center Flory Bidunga are tied for second at $6 million apiece. Momcilovic transferred from Iowa State to Kentucky after pulling out of the NBA draft and averaged 16.9 points while shooting 48.7% from 3-point range last season. Bidunga moved from Kansas to Louisville after averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds while leading the Big 12 in blocked shots and field-goal percentage.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore checks in at No. 4 with a $5 million valuation after choosing to return to school instead of entering the NFL draft. Moore is an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy after throwing 30 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and helping Oregon to a 13-2 record.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is fifth at $5 million after an 87-catch season for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The rest of On3’s top 10 includes St. John’s small forward Tounde Yessoufou, Florida small forward Thomas Haugh, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Gonzaga center Massamba Diop and Kansas small forward Tyran Stokes, all listed at $5 million.
In Other News...
Miami Arrives At ACC Kickoff With No More Room For Doubt
Miamis trip to the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff arrives with the kind of expectations that only come when a program has spent enough time circling the same summit. Mario Cristobal, Darian Mensah and Mohamed Toure are among the faces carrying that message in Charlotte, where the Hurricanes are being asked to talk about a season that has less to do with proving they belong and more to do with finally cashing in on the talent and momentum around them.
The backdrop is simple enough: Miami wants its first ACC championship and a real College Football Playoff push, and this week is the leagues annual stage for sorting contenders from hopefuls. The schedule for the kickoff event gives the Hurricanes a chance to keep that conversation going, but the larger question hangs over everything they say and do - whether this is the year the program turns the noise around it into something far more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Got More Validation On A Commit Cristobal Already Loved
Jayvon Dawsons commitment gave Miami a promising edge-rushing addition from Palm Beach County, and it also served as another sign that the Hurricanes may have landed a player whose stock was still climbing. The coaching staff already liked Dawson for the things that tend to travel well from recruiting board to Saturdays: his physical traits, his work ethic and the competitive edge he brings off the edge.
The latest evaluation only sharpens that picture. Dawson has moved into the conversation with some of the better prospects in Florida and among the nations top edge rushers, a boost that fits the way Miami has talked about him since the start. For a program trying to stack local talent and build depth at a premium position, it is the kind of validation that matters even before he takes a snap. [Read more 🡒]