WATCH: LSU football QBs during team’s first preseason practice
LSU football quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier (13), Rickie Collins (10), A.J. Swann (15) and Colin Hurley (16) work during the first fall practice.
BATON ROUGE — The collegiate waters have changed directions once again as schools have been officially granted permission to directly pay its student-athletes thanks to the approval of the House vs NCAA settlement last month.
On July 1, the settlement took effect and in this new era, the beginning baseline for collegiate programs to pay players opens at a $20.5 million “salary cap.” LSU athletics officials have said SEC schools will use $2.5 million of that pool for the creation of 65 new scholarships.
So that leaves $18 million to be distributed to LSU student-athletes. LSU officials have also said it will follow the guidelines laid out in the House settlement as LSU football will receive 75% followed by a 15% allocation for men’s basketball.
LSU FOOTBALL SEC MEDIA DAYS QUESTIONS
Kim Mulkey and the LSU women’s basketball will receive $900,000 while the remainder of LSU sports will get a share of $900,000.
With the guidelines in place, what could LSU football’s “payroll” look like for the 2025 season? Athletic marketplace and Name, Image and Likeness technology company OpenDorse has put together a projection for what each position group on a Power Five football team could make.
These numbers won’t be final and they don’t include third-party NIL deals that players can generate outside of the revenue sharing pool.
LSU football quarterbacks
- LSU players: Garrett Nussmeier, Michael Van Buren Jr., Ju’Juan Johnson, Colin Hurley, Emile Picarella III
- OpenDorse allocation: 16.9%
- Estimated LSU pay for all quarterbacks: $2.28 million or $456,000 per players if distributed equally
LSU football running backs
- LSU players: Caden Durham, Kaleb Jackson, Harlem Berry, J.T. Lindsey, Trey Holly, Malachi Lane, Joseph Ebun, Reid Chauvin
- OpenDorse allocation: 8.9%
- Estimated LSU pay for all running backs: $1.2 million or $150,000 per player if distributed equally
LSU football wide receivers
- LSU players: Aaron Anderson, Nic Anderson, Barion Brown, Zavion Thomas, Chris Hilton Jr., Kyle Parker, Destyn Hill, Jelani Watkins, Phillip Wright Jr., Kylan Billiot, TaRon Francis, Cowinn Helaire, Isaiah Stone
- OpenDorse allocation: 15.4%
- Estimated LSU pay for all wide receivers: $2.1 million or $161,538 per players if distributed equally
LSU football tight ends
- LSU players: Trey’Dez Green, Bauer Sharp, Donovan Green, GiVanni Petesron, J.D. LaFleur, Landon Craig
- OpenDorse allocation: 4.5%
- Estimated LSU pay for all tight ends: $607,500 or $101,250 per player if distributed equally
LSU football offensive line
- LSU players: Weston Davis, Solomon Thomas, Ory Williams, Tyler Miller, Ethan Calloway, Josh Thompson, Carius Curne, Braelin Moore, Paul Mubenga, Bo Bordelon, Brett Bordelon, Khayree Lee Jr., Tyree Adams, Braden Augustus, Coen Echols, D.J. Chester
- OpenDorse allocation: 14.2%
- Estimated LSU pay for all offensive linemen: $1.92 million or $120,000 per player if distributed equally
LSU football defensive line
- LSU players: Jacobian Guillory II, Ahmad Breaux, Dominick McKinley, Shone Washington, Joey August, Walter Mathis Jr., Brandon Brown, Zion Williams, Sydir Mitchell, Hayes Fuqua, Bernard Gooden, Patrick Payton, Jimari Butler, C.J. Jackson, Damien Shanklin, Gabriel Reliford, Jack Pyburn, Kolaj Cobbins, Dylan Carpenter
- OpenDorse allocation: 13.7%
- Estimated LSU pay for all defensive linemen: $1.85 million or $97,368 per player if distributed equally
LSU football linebackers
- LSU players: Harold Perkins Jr., Whit Weeks, West Weeks, Dahvon Keys, Jaiden Braker, Charles Ross II, C.J. Jimcoily, Keylan Moses, Zach Weeks, Tylen Singleton, Gabe Leonards, Kenzel Kelly, Princeton Malbrue, Jake Ibieta
- OpenDorse allocation: 11.9%
- Estimated LSU pay for all linebackers: $1.61 million or $115,000 per players if distributed equally
LSU football defensive backs
- LSU players: Mansoor Delane, Ashton Stamps, P.J. Woodland, Ja’Keem Jackson, D.J. Pickett, Michael Turner Jr., Aidan Anding, Wallace Foster IV, Craig Walton Jr., Justin Echols, Tamarcus Cooley, Jardin Gilbert, A.J. Haulcy, Javien Toviano, Dashawn Spears, Joel Rogers, Jacob Bradford, Austin Ausberry, Jhase Thomas, Tyson Short
- OpenDorse allocation: 13%
- Estimated LSU pay for all defensive backs: $1.8 million or $90,000 per player if distributed equally
LSU football specialists
- LSU players: Grant Chadwick, Badger Hargett, Damian Ramos, Aeron Burrell, Aidan Corbello, Sean Perret, Jonathan Ferguson, Silas Hall
- OpenDorse allocation: 1.5%
- Estimated LSU pay for all specialists: $202,500 or $25,313 per player if distributed equally
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
