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This South Carolina College Has the Highest-Earning NFL Players

By Anne Erickson September 19th
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 17: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates with Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans after Tannehill's rushing touchdown during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

South Carolina has some great college football teams. Every fall, we certainly enjoy watching college football, and you can add high school and pro football to that list, too. Now, a new study is out that reveals that one South Carolina college produces the highest-earning NFL players.

The study was conducted by sports betting media group Canada Sports Betting. In the study, they looked into the “lifetime career earnings of active NFL players who attended college in America, to calculate the average earnings per player from different colleges.” Now, in Michigan, one would assume that the University of Michigan would be on the top of this list. But, it’s not. Shocking, right?

Before we get to our state, note that the University of California, Berkeley, took the No. 1 spot on the list with average earnings of $38,242,817 million per player. Not too shabby. Next, Mississippi State is No. 2 on the list, with an average earnings per player of $28,653,428. When it comes to that school, according to Canada Sports Better, “Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the highest-earning active NFL player from Mississippi State, earning approximately $131,317,825 throughout his career.”

This South Carolina College Produces the Highest-Earning NFL Players

Here we go. No. 3 is Clemson, South Carolina, with average earnings per player of $22,639,863. For that school, “Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the highest-earning currently active NFL player to hail from Fresno, with career earnings of approximately $111,577,890,” according to the study. That’s incredible. Moving to No. 4, it’s Michigan State University, with an average earnings per player of $19,980,639. It’s no big surprise that Minnesota Vikings Kirk Cousins is the highest-earning active NFL player from MSU. His approximate total career earnings are currently $201,669,486. No. 5 on the list is Fresno State University, California, with an average earnings per player of $19,244,175. For more on Canada Sports Betting, go here.

10 Best NFL Teams Going Into the 2023 Season

  • 10. Baltimore Ravens

    I could have put these guys higher, as the Baltimore Ravens are solid in 2023. What they have that a lot of teams – even good teams – don’t have is a fantastic defense. As they say, defense wins games. So, they’re Super Bowl contenders, but I see them struggling against the teams coming up on this list.

  • 9. Detroit Lions

    Okay. You might say I’m a bit biased here, since I’m a Detroiter and a Detroit Lions fan. But, nearly every NFL critic has the Detroit Lions in their top 15 going into the new season. Some even having them winning the Super Bowl. I really think that Dan Campbell, Jared Goff and company have what it takes to make it to the playoffs the year. As for the Super Bowl? I could see them there in the next few years.

  • 8. Seattle Seahawks

    I kind of consider the Seattle Seahawks the surprise team for 2023. They tend to fly under the radar on best-of lists, but they’ve got one of the best offenses in the NFL. Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet are magic.

  • 7. Dallas Cowboys

    The Dallas Cowboys have been flirting with getting to the Super Bowl, and they’re almost there. They have a super tight defense, and now, their offense has solidified. They’ve got new star players in Stephon Gilmore, Brandin Cooks and Mazi Smith, which will certainly help.

  • 6. Buffalo Bills

    The Buffalo Bills were favorites to make it to the Super Bowl last season, but they fell towards the end of the season. Still, they’re one of the strongest teams in the league, and now, they have something to prove.

  • 5. San Francisco 49ers

    I know, I know. How could I put the San Francisco 49ers as low as No. 5 on this list? Many think they’ll go all the way this year. Hey, I think they’re strong and definitely Super Bowl Contenders. But, the teams that follow will be hard to beat. In any case, the 49ers’ coaching staff is fantastic, so that will help.

  • 4. Cincinnati Bengals

    The Cincinnati Bengals have been nickel-and-diming their way to the top. They have strong defenses and offenses, plus recently added left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to their defense roster. With their A-list roster of players and smart coaching staff, they could go all the way.

  • 3. New York Jets

    I’m ready for the hate mail. (But, please, don’t send it!) Pretty much every NFL critic has the New York Jets in their top 10, or even top five, this season. But, selecting them as No. 3 is stepping out on a limb a bit for me. That said, as a Lions fan, I’ve watched Aaron Rodgers over the years. I know he’s not always easy to take. But, he’s still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league. Now, he’s with a new team, and that team is stacked. As I see it, the New York Jets could go all the way this season, or they could be a total flop. Flip a coin.

  • 2. Kansas City Chiefs

    While most NFL critics have the Kansas City Chiefs as their No. 1 pick going into the season, I’ve put them at No. 2. That said, they are so, so close to my No. 1 pick, so it could go either way. The Kansas City Chiefs were fantastic in the Super Bowl earlier this year. They took home a definitive win. They also still have a solid, strong roster, including the head of it all, Patrick Mahomes. I really think Mahomes is a modern-day Brady. He’s already proved himself on the field over and over again. Also, he’s still very young, so he could be an elite quarterback for years to come.

  • 1. Philadelphia Eagles

    Honestly, picking the No. 1 best NFL team going into the new season was very difficult. Any team in the top five could have had this slot. But, I’m going with the Philadelphia Eagles. Why? Well, we already know that they’re talented and a strong team. But, so are the other teams on this list. So, what sets them apart? I believe what sets them apart is that they’re hungry. After losing in the Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts are company are hungrier than ever to finish up that unsettled business. I think this is the year they’ll do it.

Anne Erickson's love for music drew her into radio. She started on the airwaves shortly after graduating from MSU. Anne has a passion for rock and metal, and she also fronts the band Upon Wings. Email Anne at erickson@WRIF.com, follow her on Instagram at @EricksonAnne and tweet at her @AnneErickson! Anne covers the Detroit, Philadelphia and Las Vegas markets and beyond.

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