## Julian Lewis Ends Season on the Bench Julian Lewis concluded his freshman year with the Colorado Buffaloes largely from the sidelines. Despite the limited playing time, he closed the season with an impressive $1.1 million in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals. This figure highlights how brand potential and social media influence remain crucial in the modern college football era. ## Comparison with Shedeur Sanders Lewis’s NIL earnings stand in stark contrast to Shedeur Sanders, who reportedly earned around $6.5 million last year. The comparison between the two quarterbacks underscores the massive disparity in NIL incomes across top college programs. While Sanders’s dominant on-field performances and high profile under coach Deion Sanders gave him a significant market edge, Lewis’s bench role limited his exposure. ## The NIL Reality for College Athletes The difference in earnings between Lewis and Sanders exemplifies the new dynamics of college sports under NIL regulations. Star athletes at high-profile schools often reach multi-million-dollar deals, while promising but less visible players still capture substantial, though comparatively smaller, amounts. Lewis’s $1.1 million package still places him among the top young athletes benefiting from collegiate endorsements. > “Even from the sidelines, Lewis remains one of the NCAA’s highest-earning freshmen,” noted an NIL market analyst. ## Future Outlook As Lewis looks ahead to his sophomore year, much of his earning potential may depend on his ability to secure a starting role or transfer to a program offering more playing time. Meanwhile, the evolving NIL landscape continues to reshape how success and value are measured in college football. *** **Author’s Summary:** Despite limited playtime, Julian Lewis secured $1.1M in NIL deals, revealing the influence of brand potential even off the field amid vast earning gaps in college football.

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The SportsRush — 2025-11-30