Louisville football has 5 players among projected top NIL earners. See who made the list

On3.com has created a formula that calculates and ranks athletes’ projected NIL valuations. Louisville athletes are among the nation's top projected earners, according to the website.

On3 makes its projections based on three categories: performance, influence and exposure. The website's algorithm includes information on NIL deals, but it doesn't act as a tracker of the value of those deals. On3 specifically "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."

Here are the top Louisville athletes' projected annual values, according to On3:

Louisville football has five players among projected top 600 earners

Ashton Gillotte, who announced Thursday he is returning for his senior year, is projected by On3.com as the top-earning Cardinals football player with an NIL estimate of $492,000. He was projected as No. 151 among all college athletes.

Former running back Jawhar Jordan, who declared Wednesday for the 2024 NFL Draft, is projected second among U of L athletes with a $352,000 valuation, ranking 275th nationally. Senior quarterback Jack Plummer was next at $274,000, redshirt junior receiver Jamari Thrash was fourth among Cardinals athletes at $210,000 and redshirt junior cornerback Quincy Riley was fifth at $204,000.

Skyy Clark among projected top 100 college basketball earners

Louisville sophomore guard Skyy Clark ranked 62nd in the projected top 100 college basketball earners. On3 gave Clark a projected valuation of $142,000.

Clark — sixth overall in the estimated earnings at Louisville — has 242,000 followers on his social media platforms, with the bulk coming from Instagram.

Which brands/companies are teaming up with Louisville athletes?

502Circle, an independent Louisville-focused NIL collective, is helping U of L athletes with their earning potential. Point guard Jayda Curry, offensive lineman Michael Gonzales, Thrash (who has a deal with Louisville-based mentorship Delta Foundation Inc.), forward Nyla Harris (who has deals with Ibotta and Reign Total Body Fuel), wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce and safety Josh Minkins have signed deals with 502Circle.

According to On3, Curry has deals with HEYDUDE Shoes and Nabisco. A quick scan of Curry's Instagram revealed NIL-sponsored posts dedicated to Simple Truth, Mack House Inc. and a California chiropractor.

Curry has 55,000 followers on social media, but On3 didn’t post her projected NIL valuation.

Guard Hercy Miller ($98,000 projected valuation, No. 87 college basketball ranking) has a deal with CeraVe Skincare. Plummer has a deal with Tom Drexler Plumbing.

Reach sports reporter Brooks Warren at bwarren@gannett.com and follow him on X at @Broookksss.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville football projected NIL valuations: Ashton Gillotte at top