Here’s how much Trevor Lawrence should be paid at Clemson

How much is Trevor Lawrence worth from a dollar standpoint for Clemson?

If Trevor Lawrence could get paid by Clemson, he’d already be a millionaire.

We know the 6-foot-6 starting quarterback for Clemson football will be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, probably by the toothless Jacksonville Jaguars. Every shampoo and conditioner conglomerate will be chomping at the bit for his endorsement by this time next summer. But what if he could have capitalized on his name, image and likeness during his first two years in college?

Sam Weber of Opendorse gave us a sneak peek of all 2020 Heisman Trophy contenders’ potential earning power through NIL. Lawrence and his long flowing blonde locks of shampoo earning power potential is one of two college athletes with more than a $1 million valuation.

Lawrence is estimated to earn $1,230,653 off his name, image and likeness in an ideal world. The only guy slated to earn more off NIL in an ideal sense would be none other than the man his entire football career will always be associated with, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields. He would earn $1,348,688 in a purely capitalistic economy of his name, image and likeness in 2020.

Isn’t Trevor Lawrence worth more than $1 million to Clemson?

One could certainly argue Lawrence is worth more than his estimated $1.23 million valuation for 2020. If Clemson goes undefeated, wins another national title and he takes the first Heisman Trophy home to the Clemson campus in school history, you might as well double that number and then some. The university will see an even bigger spike in out-of-state applications, per usual.

This is why college football is so important to a university’s overall health. It’s brand recognition. Once Alabama started winning big under Nick Saban, the university benefited massively from it. Alabama has always had a good business school, but with so many great students from outside of the Yellowhammer State wanting to attend, admission has gotten harder.

Clemson is the preeminent program in the ACC and the best program in South Carolina. However, Clemson University only has 25,000 students enrolled. Only 20,000 of them are undergraduates. For a public university to get state funding like Clemson, more than half of the incoming student body has to be from the Palmetto State. That said, it can take who it wants out-of-state.

So when you see a new building under construction or another one being renovated on the Clemson campus, you can thank Dabo Swinney’s football program, as well as stars like Lawrence and Deshaun Watson for helping in some ways front the bill. Yes, there will be a donor with his or her name attached to it, but you can never put a price on having a dominant college football team.

Lawrence is worth every penny of that estimated $1.23 million NIL valuation.

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