How much did Caleb Downs make in NIL?

What was Caleb Downs's NIL value?

As of August 2026, Caleb Downs's estimated NIL value falls between $1.9M and $3M. Caleb Downs is a former Ohio State Buckeyes safety, now with Dallas Cowboys (NFL). Caleb has about 525K followers across social media, led by 525K on Instagram, a core driver of football NIL value. Caleb's figure reflects publicly reported figures, per On3 NIL Valuations (2026).

Caleb's social media following

Caleb's public social presence is about ~525K followers on Instagram. Follower figures are approximate, as of August 2026.

NIL at Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State runs one of the biggest NIL operations in the country. Athletic department leadership publicly acknowledged that the 2024 national championship roster cost roughly $20 million in NIL support, a figure that became a benchmark for football spending. Donor money has flowed through major collectives including THE Foundation and The 1870 Society, and since the 2025 House settlement the school can also pay athletes directly, up to about $20.5 million departmentwide in year one with the cap rising annually. With one of the largest athletic budgets and fanbases in college sports, Ohio State can fund both layers fully, and Buckeye football players are regulars near the top of national NIL valuation rankings.

How NIL value is calculated

An NIL value is an estimate of what an athlete could earn from name, image and likeness over 12 months, not a salary or a confirmed deal. We weigh audience (social reach and engagement), performance and role, school and market, and the sport and position. Where a public figure exists, we sense-check against it; this valuation is anchored to On3 NIL Valuations (2026). See how NIL valuations work.

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