#2 - Texas A&M

The benefits of being a professional athlete are numerous. One of the biggest perks of extraordinary athletic skill is the ability to profit from your name and likeness. Endorsements account for millions of an athlete’s yearly income. In 2010/11 Michael Jordan earned about $60 Million through contracts with companies like Gatorade, Nike, and Hanes. LeBron has made about $40 Million, and Washington Redskins’ rookie dynamo, RG3, has recently signed several deals with Gatorade, EvoShield, and Subway that will earn him millions in revenue. These endorsement deals allow the athletes to earn extra income merely by slapping his name on some merchandise or allowing their likeness to be used in advertisements. Now, if you’re thinking, “I can’t wait to get to college, play my butt off, and sling some number 2 combos for McDonalds,” well you’re in for a huge disappointment. As in the case of Johnny Manziel, lovingly nicknamed “Johnny Football,” your name and likeness belongs to your school and the NCAA, meaning that all revenue earned by the presence and aura of Mr. Football does not belong to him.

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