Ashton Jeanty Gives Insight on NIL & Managing Finances

The 2024 college football season is officially over but some players, like Ashton Jeanty, are staying busy during the offseason. 

The Boise State star running back recently shared insight regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

As someone who knows what it’s like to start at the bottom and rise through the ranks, Jeanty has a great deal of advice for players preparing to deal with or currently managing NIL.

Climbing the college football ladder

Jeanty went from receiving no offers from the big-name schools he was hoping for to serving as a serious contender for the 2024 Heisman Trophy. 

The 21-year-old sat down with Front Office Sports earlier this month and shared his opinions on the running back position, his NFL hopes, and how to manage NIL in 2025.

Jeanty understands what it’s like to unexpectedly receive financial opportunities and encourages people to prioritize growth as players, rather than just accepting the highest offers.

Someone like him could have easily looked to jump ship for a school that receives more NIL attention like Michigan or Ohio State.

Front Office Sports’ Baker Machado pointed this out, saying that the national championship winners, Ohio State, have a $20 million NIL budget while Boise State is working with just $2 million.

“Money is money,” Jeanty said. “It’s going to be hard to get these young guys to come to your school if they’re not being offered the amount they want and they know they can go somewhere else and get offered those amounts. 

He admitted that it can be difficult for players to focus on choosing the schools that don’t simply offer the most in NIL. 

He says he stuck with Boise State because he knew that’s where he could best evolve as a player, thus maximizing his chances of being selected later this year at the 2025 NFL Draft.

“You look at a player like me who went through Boise State, I was able to develop,” he explained. “That’s the most important thing, is to be able to play on the next level. The money you get right now, it’s cool. It’s great. But the money you’ll get in the NFL, that’s life-changing. That’s generational.”

How Jeanty stays savvy with his money

Jeanty’s advice didn’t stop there. He also shared wisdom related to how players should manage their newfound finances.

“First things first, you can’t spend all that money,” Jeanty said. “You gotta pay taxes. So definitely that, like managing my money. Because being that young, I [had] just turned 20, and to be able to start handling six figures as a young man, that’s a big deal. Never seen that many dollar signs in my bank account.”

Financial literacy has been a significant concern as NIL continues to dominate the college sports landscape. Jeanty says coming into money comes with more responsibility than simply placing your finances into the right accounts.  

“I think the biggest thing of all is helping me grow as a young man to where I am today. More responsibility is what it comes with. Building a team around me to help me manage everything and building generational wealth right now before I even step into the NFL.”

Victoria Jonach is an aspiring writer and media analyst fascinated by the activities players participate in off the football field. Growing up in New Jersey, she is a New York Giants fan and attends Rutgers University, pursuing a career in Journalism and Media Studies. She writes for FirstRoundMock.com covering anticipated draft picks and their acts of volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and other interests that shape these individuals.