College football roster budgets have ballooned this offseason as teams prepare for a new era in which schools can compensate athletes directly. But could a championship team cost as much as $40 million?

That’s one high-end estimate of what Texas could be spending on its 2025 roster, according to a Houston Chronicle report from columnist Kirk Bohls. Bohls, who has covered the Longhorns for more than 50 years, reported Wednesday that the team’s roster budget currently sits somewhere “between $35 million and $40 million,” including the revenue the school will be able to share as a result of the House v. NCAA settlement.

If that budget range is accurate, it represents a significant leap from the previous highest known roster budget in the sport: Ohio State’s 2024 roster, which went on to win the national championship, cost around $20 million, athletic director Ross Bjork told the Columbus Dispatch and Yahoo! Sports last summer.

Is an estimate of as much as twice the Buckeyes’ figure realistic or far-fetched? The Athletic reached out to multiple Texas officials to confirm the veracity of the Chronicle’s report, but all declined comment. But after conversations with a dozen people elsewhere in college football with knowledge of roster budgets, including general managers, personnel directors and name, image and likeness collective heads, here’s what we know — and don’t — about Texas’ spending power and the state of roster budgets headed into the 2025 season. Each person was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about team finances.

What we know

Team roster budgets are rarely officially confirmed.

Because schools won’t directly share revenue with players until the settlement is approved, compensation still runs through NIL collectives, which help shield contracts and records from scrutiny. But Texas Tech basketball star JT Toppin and quarterback Carson Beck, who transferred from Georgia to Miami, are just two examples from this year of player pay levels becoming public knowledge.

Some schools or collectives are more forthcoming than others. Walker Jones, executive director of The Grove Collective, which works with Ole Miss athletes, said last fall that the collective spent more than $10 million on NIL deals for the football roster. Texas Tech spent more than $10 million on just its transfer portal class this offseason, and Bjork opened eyes when he revealed Ohio State’s budget last year.

Most programs, however, prefer to keep those numbers close to the vest. An athletic director at a Power 4 program, when asked this week by The Athletic how much his school expected to allocate to the football program in revenue sharing, declined to specify, citing a “competitive advantage” of keeping it quiet.

Texas athletics has plenty of money.

The Longhorns consistently rank near the top of college athletics in annual revenue. In 2024, Texas pulled in $331.9 million in athletics revenue, No. 1 in the country according to the Knight-Newhouse College Athletics Database. In 2023, Texas was second in athletics revenue ($239.2 million) to only Ohio State ($251.6 million).

In addition, the Longhorns have operated at the forefront of the market since the NCAA started allowing athletes to be compensated for use of their NIL rights in 2021. In December of that year, the football program made waves with the “Pancake Factory,” an initiative that promised $50,000 annually to Texas offensive linemen in exchange for promoting Austin charities. That price seems quaint now; Power 4 teams may need 10 times that much to obtain a starting offensive lineman for a season.

Eventually, the five collectives that had sprung up to compensate Texas athletes across various sports merged into the Texas One Fund, which is now the school’s exclusive collective. The Texas One Fund spent more than $11 million compensating Longhorn athletes in 2023, according to a tax return obtained by Sportico.

At an alumni speaking engagement in 2022, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte lauded the power of leveraging some of the school’s 500,000-plus living alumni, telling the crowd, “NIL is our game. When that basket passes around, I don’t need stuff that jingles, I need stuff that folds.”

Blake Lawrence, the CEO of Opendorse, a company that facilitates and manages NIL deals, told The Athletic in January that “Texas was one of the first to start to really lean into bringing consistent NIL opportunities to athletes across all sports.” He said of the roughly 50 collectives that Opendorse works with nationwide, Texas One Fund is near the top in just about every category.

“Texas is in the top three (nationally) of every measurable unit in NIL data: total NIL compensation, total NIL deals, total NIL deals to women, total commercial deals,” Lawrence said. “No matter what metric you pick … Texas is in the top three, if not No. 1 across the board.”

Texas football has excelled in retaining key players and acquiring new ones in the transfer portal, which are the two types of transactions that command the most dollars. When the Longhorns are in the mix for a player in the portal, their chances are usually strong because of their spending power.

Industry insiders don’t think a $35-40 million roster budget is out of the question for top programs.

A February survey of 13 coaches and personnel staffers on the transfer portal and player compensation contained a variety of answers on what it would take to build a championship roster in their conferences. But one Power 4 general manager offered this: “$40-50 million. That’s where I think it’s going to go.”

Asked about the Texas estimate today, several GMs, personnel directors and people in the NIL world believed the number.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said the founder of a Power 4 collective. “Texas is a massive program and is obviously looking to win titles. (Athletic directors) and universities who don’t believe teams will go way above the (revenue sharing) cap, especially ones that want to compete for titles, are lying to themselves and their fan bases.”

Nearly everyone surveyed on Wednesday found a $35 million to $40 million roster to be realistic for Texas, with several suggesting only a small handful of schools can spend in that ballpark. A second Power 4 GM described Texas as paying some of its backup players like starters.

Pending revenue sharing is boosting everyone’s spending power.

Considering Texas spent eight figures to compensate athletes through its collective in 2023, it’s reasonable to assume that number went up in 2024, as team budgets at top programs increased. Add in at least $20 million to the athletics compensation pool via direct payments coming in the wake of the House settlement — the majority of which is ticketed for football at most P4 schools — and getting above $30 million isn’t unreasonable for a program like Ohio State or Texas.

In the February survey, starter-caliber players at multiple positions were said to have a market in the mid- to high six figures. Power 4 starting quarterbacks typically cost a minimum of $1 million. Defensive linemen, edge rushers, tight ends and receivers can all clear above $500,000, and some hovered close to $1 million in the winter portal window.

In this spring’s transfer portal window, the Longhorns landed a starting receiver (Stanford’s Emmett Mosley V) and a starting tight end (Cal’s Jack Endries) and two starting defensive linemen (Syracuse’s Maraad Watson and Maryland’s Lavon Johnson) from Power 4 schools. In the winter portal window, they landed three more defensive linemen.

“They got five defensive tackles in the portal,” a third Power 4 GM said. “That’s at least $500,000 per player for an average one. For an elite defensive tackle in the portal, it’s $700,000 to $800,000.”

But the bulk of the money, the third GM said, likely went toward roster retention. Texas is bringing back starters or elite talents at multiple positions, including edge rusher (Colin Simmons and Trey Moore), linebacker (Anthony Hill Jr.), safety (Michael Taaffe), receiver (DeAndre Moore and Ryan Wingo), running back (Quintrevion Wisner) and offensive line (DJ Campbell). That’s not to mention whatever quarterback Arch Manning is making, though the Chronicle reported that Manning doesn’t take money from the school and that he and his family “acquired all his deals on their own ‘with no help from the school.’”

“The market doubled this year because you have the rev share and the (collective) money,” the third Power 4 GM said. “You have people calling players on your roster saying, ‘We’ll give you this or that.’ They take it to Texas and say, ‘This is what I need for you to keep me.’

“Texas donors, boosters are not losing guys over money, so whatever it takes, make sure we keep ’em so we can keep this rolling. They’ve been to the final four two years in a row, so they’re not going to bow out over some dollars. … I bet they have at least 12 guys making right at a million dollars.”

What we don’t know

The exact math to get to a $35-40 million budget estimate.

Does that jaw-dropping number include just 2025 player salaries, or does it account for the total value of multi-year contracts? Most players sign one-year deals with collectives, but some — like former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava — sign multi-year deals. Does that number include only what will be paid directly by Texas and its collective, or does it include outside NIL deals that were secured elsewhere, like Manning’s?

“That number does seem really high,” a fourth Power 4 GM said. “But at the end of the day, if the money works through collectives and other third-party deals, it’s hard to really say the exact amount that could’ve been produced by those teams.”

Though some schools are mum on what they will allocate to various sports via revenue sharing, some have offered a road map. Georgia, one of Texas’ SEC counterparts, plans to allocate 75 percent of its cap to football, and athletic director Josh Brooks said in February he expected many SEC peers to split their cap similarly. If Texas followed a similar path, that could account for at least $15 million of the high-end budget estimate. The other $20 million to $25 million would have to come from the Texas One Fund.

What the finalized revenue sharing caps will be.

The oft-cited $20.5 million revenue sharing “cap” coming for the 2025 season is simply an estimate. Multiple people briefed on their teams’ roster budgets emphasized that they don’t know the final number schools will be able to spend on their athletes, only that the House settlement calls for it to be set at 22 percent of the annual revenue for an average Power 4 team.

Revenue sharing, if the settlement is approved, is expected to begin July 1 and it’s possible that the final number is slightly higher than $20.5 million.

Whether Texas would be alone in pushing toward $40 million.

Multiple GMs believed that if Texas is spending at this reported level, the Longhorns aren’t the only one. Many blue bloods don’t seem to be blinking as college football’s roster investment battles enter new territory.

“I bet you there’s somebody out there that’s higher,” the third Power 4 GM said. “(Texas) is top five, for sure. But I bet it’s not the highest.”

(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)

May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the rich diversity and impact of AANHPI individuals across college sports. 

From record growth in student-athlete participation to increased leadership representation, here’s a look at the influence of AANHPI communities in NCAA sports — by the numbers. 

1) A growing presence in college sports

• 13,739 — Total AANHPI student-athletes competing across all NCAA divisions in 2023-24.
• 4% — Year-over-year increase from 2022-23 (484 student-athletes).
• 54% — Growth over the past decade (4,846 student-athletes).

2) Top sports for AANHPI student-athletes

The top five sports, by total number of AANHPI student-athletes in 2023-24, are the following:

Men 

1. Football — 1,302.
2. Outdoor track and field — 785.
3. Soccer — 706.
4. Indoor track and field — 678.
5. Baseball — 647. 

Women 

1. Soccer — 690. 
2. Tennis — 641.
3. Swimming and diving — 636.
4. Outdoor track and field — 624.
5. Indoor track and field — 579. 

While football and women’s soccer account for the highest number of AANHPI student-athletes, respectively, other sports stand out by the percentage of AANHPI student-athletes. Below are the top five sports for men and women by that metric. 

Men

1. Fencing — 23%.
2. Gymnastics — 11%.
3. Tennis — 9%.
4. Rifle — 7%.
5. Swimming and diving — 6%. 

Women 

1. Fencing — 30%.
2. Golf — 10%. 
3. Tennis — 8%. 
4. Rugby — 8%. 
5. Gymnastics — 8%. 

3) Sport growth in the AANHPI community 

Recent data shows that AANHPI representation is expanding across a wide range of sports, with significant gains in both total participants and percentage growth.

Highest percentage growth in the past 10 years (minimum 100 student-athletes)

Men: 

• Volleyball — 122%. 
• Lacrosse — 110%. 
• Soccer — 93%. 
• Indoor track and field — 91%. 
• Baseball — 78%. 

Women: 

• Lacrosse — 95%.
• Fencing — 87%.
• Golf — 82%.
• Gymnastics — 78%. 
• Field hockey — 73%. 

Largest numerical growth in the past 10 years 

Men: 

• Football — 388. 
• Soccer — 340. 
• Indoor track and field — 323.
• Outdoor track and field — 315.
• Baseball — 284. 

Women: 

• Golf — 258.
• Swimming and diving — 222. 
• Soccer — 215. 
• Indoor track and field — 201.
• Outdoor track and field — 181.

4) Leadership trends

AANHPI representation is growing in leadership roles, too.

• 49% — Increase in AANHPI head coaches across all NCAA divisions compared with a decade ago, going from 202 in 2014 to 301 in 2024. Division III accounted for 123 of the AANHPI head coaches in 2024.  
• 53% — Increase in AANHPI presidents/chancellors since 2017, when data on presidents/chancellors was first collected by the NCAA. The total number increased from 19 to 29. 

5) Academic excellence

Graduation data highlights how AANHPI student-athletes have increasingly succeeded in the classroom as well.

• Since 2002, Division I graduation rates for AANHPI student-athletes have increased from 72% to 93%. In Division I, AANHPI women student-athletes increased their graduation rates from 79% to 97% during that time, with AANHPI men going from 65% to 88%. 

(This summary includes the latest data on Asian American and Pacific Islander student-athletes and leadership in the NCAA for the 2023-24 academic year. The figures reflect individuals categorized as “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander” in the NCAA Demographics Database.) 

Jackson Walsh Twirls Gem, NA Blanks North Hills To Take Series

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Football will welcome 31 first-years to the program for the start of the 2025 season as part of the Class of 2029, Andrew Aurich, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, announced on Thursday.
 
The class gives the Crimson balance across the field with 14 student-athletes on offense, 13 on defense, and four on special teams. The offensive group includes one quarterback, two running backs, seven pass catchers, and four offensive linemen while the defensive side includes five defensive linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs alongside one kicker, one punter, and two long snappers as specialists.
 
The group hails from across the continental United States in addition to one student-athlete from Canada. The class includes five student-athletes from Florida, three each from Maryland, Massachusetts, and Texas, two each from California, Illinois, and North Carolina, and one each from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington state, and the Canadian province of Ontario. 

Harvard Football Class of 2029

Cole Allen | Running Back | Houston, Texas
Achilles Anderson | Defensive Line | Chicago, Ill.
Henry Anthony | Tight End | Davidson, N.C.
Jack Baade | Long Snapper | Fort Mill, S.C.
Jourdan Brissett | Defensive Back | Coral Springs, Fla.
Ethan Carson | Linebacker | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Brian Checkley | Punter | Baltimore, Md.
Teddy Chung | Defensive Back | Hillsborough, Calif.
Ian Cooper | Offensive Line | Cranston, R.I.
Rohan Dalal | Wide Receiver | Hillsborough, Calif.
JP Danaher | Defensive Line | Chicago, Ill.
Jordan Gonzalez | Linebacker | Coral Gables, Fla.
Mekhi Hicks | Defensive Back | Miramar, Fla.
Salim Hill | Defensive Back | Sudbury, Mass.
Levy Kinlock | Defensive Line | Plantation, Fla.
Will Krzysiak | Wide Receiver | Argyle, Texas
Akiel Lomotey | Running Back | Meriden, Conn.
Nick McCullough | Defensive Line | Muskego, Wash.
Tafari Moe | Wide Receiver | Fort White, Fla.
Ewan Newton | Offensive Line | Carleton Place, Ontario
Teigan Pelletier | Tight End | South Paris, Maine
Reed Phillips | Wide Receiver | Potomac, Md.
Graham Roberts | Offensive Line | Swampscott, Mass.
Jonathan Rubin | Kicker | Bethesda, Md.
Lukas Sanker | Defensive Back | Charlottesville, Va.
Charlie Smith | Quarterback | Charlotte, N.C.
Jack Smith | Long Snapper | West Boylston, Mass.
Ryan Tattersall | Wide Receiver | Wilmington, Del.
Brandon Ukonu | Defensive Line | Richmond, Texas
Mikey Young | Linebacker | Sandusky, Ohio
Alex Zakhem | Offensive Line | Parker, Colo. 

Cole Allen

Running Back | 5-foot-10 | 200 lbs. | Houston, Texas | St. John’s School

Earned All-Conference honors four times … Selected as the Houston Chronicle Private School Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 … Chosen as the Texas Private School Football Podcast Large School Player of the Year in 2024 … Took home Houston Vype Private School Offensive Player of the Year accolades as a senior … Recognized as the Houston Touchdown Club Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 … Set school record for touchdowns in a single game (eight) and in a career (127) … Captured Team MVP laurels three times … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also played basketball and lacrosse; captained basketball and lacrosse teams as a senior … Garnered All-District and All-Conference honors in lacrosse … Plays the piano … Son of Tamisha Jones and Cleveland Allen. 

Achilles Anderson

Defensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 260 lbs. | Chicago, Ill. | Marist High School

Earned a spot on the Chicago Sun Times’ Preseason Top 50 Players to Watch List … Chosen for the Beverly Review Top 10 Players to Watch List … Also played basketball; captained team as a junior and senior … Dean’s List and Honor Roll student … Son of Myrtlean Stockdale and Tim Anderson. 

Henry Anthony

Tight End | 6-foot-4 | 230 lbs. | Davidson, N.C. | Cannon School

Earned First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference as a senior … Gained First Team All-Conference as a junior … Caught 32 passes for 485 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior … Totaled 23 receptions for 319 yards and five touchdowns as a junior … Served team as a senior captain … Served as Head Boy for House Animus; also acted as a Community Service Prefect and Academic Prefect for House Animus … Enjoys boating, fishing, and golfing … Also played baseball … Son of Karen and Keith Anthony; Keith played football at the University of New Hampshire. 

Jack Baade

Long Snapper | 6-foot-3 | 220 lbs. | Fort Mill, S.C. | Charlotte Catholic High School (N.C.)

Ranked as a five-star long snapper via Kohl’s … Rated as the No. 1 long snapper in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina … Reached a ranking as high as No. 2 for long snappers in the nation according to Kohl’s … Garnered All-America and All-State accolades … Started all four seasons … Helped team earn a 4A conference title … Also competed in lacrosse and ice hockey; captained lacrosse team … Gained All-Conference honors in lacrosse … Helped lacrosse team win two conference championships and finish as state runners-up … Selected to the Southeast Showcase All-Star Team twice in lacrosse … National Honors Society student … Served as a Student Athletic Council Representative … Son of Tricia and Chris Baade. 

Jourdan Brissett

Defensive Back | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Coral Springs, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons High School

Won Team MVP honors three times … Helped team win a 2A District 13 championship as a senior … Aided team to qualify for regional playoff in 2023 and 2024 … Totaled 15 tackles, four pass breakups, and three blocked field goals as a senior … Also competed in track & field … First Honors Roll student … National Math Honors Society and National Athletic Honors Society member … Volunteered with Feeding South Florida … Son of Novia and Lorin. 

Ethan Carson

Linebacker | 6-foot-1 | 225 lbs. | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Blackman High School

Earned Region 3-6A MVP honors in 2025 … Gained Region 3-6A Best Linebacker accolades in 2024 … Garnered First Team All-Area in 2025 … Selected for the Blaze Award in 2025 … Totaled 85 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and five touchdowns … Served team as a captain from 2023-25 … Also played basketball … A Top Scholar student … Son of Cassandra and Zoltan Carson. 

Brian Checkley

Punter | 6-foot-2 | 220 lbs. | Baltimore, Md. | Gilman School

Earned First Team All-Conference honors in the MIAA … Gained First Team All-Metro twice … Garnered First Team All-State accolades … Captured Honorable Mention All-America laurels … Averaged 44.5 yards per punt as a senior on 56 punts with a long of 67 yards … Also competed in track & field … Volunteered with First Fruits Farms, Leveling the Playing Field, and Christmas Gift Drive … Hispanic Students Association President as a senior … Grandmother Celina Checkley played basketball for the Peruvian National Team … Son of Meghan and William Checkley.

Teddy Chung

Defensive Back | 6-foot-0 | 190 lbs. | Hillsborough, Calif. | Junipero Serra High School

Earned First Team All-League as a senior … Gained Second Team All-League as a junior … Captured First Team All-Bay Area as a junior and senior … Garnered Team MVP laurels as a senior … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also competed in lacrosse and track & field … National Honors Society student … An AP Scholar … Enjoys fishing, guitar, and golfing … Brother, John Chung, is a member of the Harvard Football Class of 2027 … Son of Betsy and Peter Chung; Peter graduated from Harvard in 1989. 

Ian Cooper

Offensive Line | 6-foot-8 | 290 lbs. | Cranston, R.I. | Suffield Academy (Conn.)

Earned All-League accolades twice … Helped team win a divisional championship as a junior … Also played basketball; gained All-League honors twice … Served as a tutor at the San Miguel School … Enjoys golf, food, and fishing … Son of Lani and Bert Cooper. 

Rohan Dalal

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-1 | 165 lbs. | Hillsborough, Calif. | Crystal Springs Uplands School

Earned Pacific Coast Athletic League Player of the Year honors as a senior … Gained First Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic League as a senior … Won Team MVP laurels in 2024-25 … Selected as team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2023-24 … Garnered Second Team All-Pacific Coast Athletic League as a junior … Led the nation in kick return yards (984 yards in seven games) for eight-man football in 2023 … Set school single-season touchdown record with 19 scores in seven games and school’s single-game receiving touchdowns record with five scores … Established Pacific Coast Athletic League records for receiving yards in a season (771 receiving yards in seven games), touchdowns in a season (19 touchdowns in seven games), and kick return yards in a season (984 yards in seven games) … National Merit Scholar, Student Body President, and Newspaper Editor-In-Chief … Served team as a captain as a senior … Also played soccer … Son of Kimberly Moore Dalal and Anupam Dalal.

JP Danaher

Defensive Line | 6-foot-5 | 250 lbs. | Chicago, Ill. | Saint Rita High School

Earned Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior … Helped team win a Prep Bowl championship as a junior … Helped team reach state semifinals as a senior … Served team as a senior captain … Also played baseball … Went to the state finals with United Team (Special Olympics) in basketball … Enjoys golfing … Son of Beth and John Danaher. 

Jordan Gonzalez

Linebacker | 6-foot-2 | 230 lbs. | Coral Gables, Fla. | Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.)

Earned Honorable Mention All-NEPSAC in 2023 and 2024 … Helped team win a Class A NEPSAC Championship … Gained team’s Defensive MVP award … Captained Choate in 2024 … Played at Ransom Everglades School prior to Choate Rosemary Hall … Served Ransom Everglades as a captain in 2022 … Earned First Team All-Founders League at Ransom Everglades … Also competed in wrestling and lacrosse … Won the Florida Business Challenge in 2022, starting a company called Remember Reality focused on integrating virtual reality and AI to recreate memories for Alzheimer’s patients … Earned the Harvard Award for scholarship and sportsmanship … Honor Roll student … Co-founder of school’s Agape Ambassador Program … Enjoys golf, fishing, and guitar … Son of Melinda and Jorge Gonzalez. 

Mekhi Hicks

Defensive Back | 5-foot-10 | 175 lbs. | Miramar, Fla. | American Heritage Plantation

Earned First Team All-County as a senior … Gained Team Defensive MVP accolades … Won the Brian Piccolo Student-Athlete award … Helped team win a state title in 2024 … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in track & field … Volunteered as a summer camp counselor and track & field youth coach … Enjoys music … Son of Karen Rolle-Hicks and Michael Hicks. 

Salim Hill

Defensive Back | 5-foot-10 | 175 lbs. | Sudbury, Mass. | Groton School

Earned All-ISL honors in 2022, 2023, and 2024 … Gained All-NEPSAC accolades in 2023 and 2024 … Won the Groton School Charles Alexander Award in 2024 … Garnered Team MVP laurels in 2024 … Captained team as a senior … Also competed in track & field; served team as a senior captain … Captured All-ISL and All-NEPSAC honors in track & field … Set school record in 110 meters (10.85) … Son of Tivona and Karim Hill; Karim played football at Ohio University from 1996-2000.

Levy Kinlock

Defensive Line | 6-foot-2 | 245 lbs. | Plantation, Fla. | Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)

Played at American Heritage in Florida prior to competing at Phillips Exeter Academy … Earned All-League honors … Helped team win a conference title … Captained American Heritage as a senior … Also competed in wrestling and weightlifting … Brother, Jaeden Kinlock, is a member of the Harvard Football Class of 2026 … Son of Andrea Murray and Taipan Kinlock.

Will Krzysiak

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Argyle, Texas | Argyle High School

Earned First Team All-District in 2023 and 2024 … Gained Second Team All-State in 2024 … Garnered First Team Academic All-State in 2024 … Helped team make two state semifinal appearances in 5A Division 2 Texas High School football in 2022 and 2024 … Helped team win three straight district titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 … Posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2023 and 2024 … Also competed in track & field … Son of Jane and Michael Krzysiak. 

Akiel Lomotey

Running Back | 6-foot-0 | 205 lbs. | Meriden, Conn. | Branford High School

Earned All-Southern Connecticut Conference in 2023 … Gained Best Offensive Player award in 2023 … A Scholar-Athlete with the National Football Foundation, New Haven Chapter in 2024 … Selected for the Frank Pepe Best Player in the East Haven Game Award in 2023 and 2024 … Tallied multiple games with over 200 rushing yards and multiple games with two or more touchdowns … High Honors student … National Honors Society member … Enjoys music, bike riding, and chess … Also competed in basketball and outdoor track & field … Brother Jelani Lomotey plays football at Stonehill … Son of Jodi Harris and NiiObli Lomotey; NiiObli played football at Central Connecticut State. 

Nick McCullough

Defensive Line | 6-foot-3 | 260 lbs. | Muskego, Wash. | Muskego High School

Earned All-State, All-Region, and All-Conference accolades … Started 38 varsity games … Helped team finish as a state runner-up … Earned Academic All-State honors … Garnered the Scholar-Athlete award … Captained team as a junior and senior … Also competed in track & field … Enjoys traveling and cooking … Son of Debbie and Colby McCullough. 

Tafari Moe

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 185 lbs. | Fort White, Fla. | Fort White High School

Earned All-State accolades as a junior and senior … Garnered All-Area in football as a junior and senior … Captained team as a junior and senior … Also competed in basketball and track & field; served basketball team as a captain … Earned All-State in basketball as a junior and senior … Gained All-Area in basketball all four seasons … Led basketball team to final four … Scored over 1,300 career points in basketball … Son of Loretta Chapman and Russel Moe.

Ewan Newton

Offensive Line | 6-foot-4 | 295 lbs. | Carleton Place, Ontario | Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)

Earned First Team All-NEPSAC … Also played for the Cumberland Panthers and Kanata Knights … Helped team win a Northeast Prep Football League title in 2023 and 2024 … Won the Drew Gamere Bowl in 2024 … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in basketball, volleyball, and track & field … Enjoys ice hockey and weightlifting … Son of Krista and John Newton.

Teigan Pelletier

Tight End | 6-foot-6 | 230 lbs. | South Paris, Maine | St. Paul’s School (N.H.)

Earned All-NEPSAC and NEPSAC Player of the Year accolades as a senior … Gained All-NEPSAC honors as a junior … Helped team go 9-0 as a senior, winning the John Pappas Bowl … Played at Oxford Hills High School prior to St. Paul’s … Also competed in basketball and track & field … Captured Honorable Mention All-NEPSAC in basketball as a junior … National Honors Society student … Enjoys golf … Sister, Ella Pelletier, plays basketball at Stonehill … Son of Tara and Nate Pelletier. 

Reed Phillips

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-3 | 180 lbs. | Potomac, Md. | Episcopal High School (Va.)

Rated as a three-star wide receiver by Rivals and 247Sports … Selected to the Navy All-American Bowl … Earned All-IAC and All-State honors … Helped team win a conference title as a junior … Averaged 34 yards per catch for career … Also competed in track & field … Garnered All-IAC, All-State, All-County, and All-Met in track & field … Set school record in the 200m … Won the Virginia state title in the 200m … Qualified for New Balance Nationals in track … Aunts Felicia Phillips ’88 and Mitzi Meriwether ’90 graduated from Harvard … Brother, Carter Phillips, is a member of the Georgetown Football Class of 2026 … Son of Margo and Damon Phillips; Damon played football at Stanford. 

Graham Roberts

Offensive Line | 6-foot-3 | 285 lbs. | Swampscott, Mass. | St. John’s Prep

Earned Catholic Conference All-Star honors … Selected as a Boston Herald Super 26 All-Star … Gained Boston Globe First Team All-Massachusetts … Garnered Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors … Captured Salem News All-Star accolades … Helped team win a Division 1 state title in 2022 … Helped team claim a conference championship in 2023 … Served team as a senior captain … National Honors Society student … Enjoys skiing, DJing, and weightlifting … Brother, Dylan Roberts, is a member of the Bates Football Class of 2026 … Son of Karen and Andrew Roberts. 

Jonathan Rubin

Kicker | 5-foot-11 | 200 lbs. | Bethesda, Md. | Maret High School

Ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the state of Maryland … Earned All-League honors … Selected as a Blue Grey All-American in 2025 … Helped team win two state titles … Kicked the game-winning field goal as a first-year to win a state championship … Set school record for career field goals made … Started all four seasons … Founded Everyone Eats, a charity company that donates food … Plays the piano … A second-degree red belt in karate … Son of Iris and Michael Rubin. 

Lukas Sanker

Defensive Back | 6-foot-0 | 195 lbs. | Charlottesville, Va. | Woodberry Forest School

Earned All-State and All-Conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Also competed in wrestling and track & field; captained track team as a senior … Gained All-Conference in wrestling and All-State in indoor track in the high jump and 4x200m … Broke school’s 4x100m record in 2025 … Served school as a prefect … Brother Jonas Sanker played football at Virginia and was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints with the 93^rd overall pick … Brother, Nicholas Sanker, played football at Princeton and brother, Kendrick Sanker, played football at Hampton … Son of Jeannette and George Sanker; George played football at Colgate. 

Charlie Smith

Quarterback | 6-foot-2 | 205 lbs. | Charlotte, N.C. | Charlotte Catholic High School

Earned All-Conference honors as a senior … Gained Team Offensive MVP accolades as a senior … Led team to first Southwestern 4A conference title in program history as a senior … Served team as offensive captain as a senior … A National Honors Society, Headmasters List, and Honor Roll student … Enjoys golf … Son of Ashley and Aaron Smith. 

Jack Smith

Long Snapper | 5-foot-11 | 220 lbs. | West Boylston, Mass. | West Boylston High School

Earned Midland Wachusett League All-Star honors as a senior … Selected as an MIAA Division 8 All-Star … Won the Coaches Award … Helped team win the MIAA Division 8 state titles three times … Helped team to a 14-game win streak … Set the MIAA state record for longest passing touchdown in Super Bowl history … Captured team’s leadership and sportsmanship awards … Served team as a senior captain … Also competed in track & field and basketball; acted as a captain for both track & field and basketball … An Academic All-Star … National Honors Society Treasurer … Student Council, President … Received the Harvard Book Award … Son of Amy and Greg Smith.

Ryan Tattersall

Wide Receiver | 6-foot-6 | 190 lbs. | Wilmington, Del. | Wilmington Friends School

Earned First Team All-State as a quarterback and defensive back … Selected as the 2A Offensive Player of the Year … Helped team win a state title in 2022 … Helped team capture three conference championships … Served team as a senior captain … Also played basketball and baseball; acted as a captain for basketball … Gained Honorable Mention All-State in basketball … Garnered Academic All-State in football and basketball … Brother, Robby Tattersall, is a member of the Yale Football Class of 2027 … Son of Shannon and Rob Tattersall.

Brandon Ukonu

Defensive Line | 6-foot-2 | 280 lbs. | Richmond, Texas | Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Earned First Team All-District as a defensive tackle … Helped team win Houston Football Team of the Year honors … Served team as a senior captain … Gained First Team All-Academic from 2023-25 … Also competed in wrestling and rugby … Won a district title in wrestling … Helped rugby team reach state finals … Son of Grace and Joseph Ukonu. 

Mikey Young

Linebacker | 6-foot-1 | 210 lbs. | Sandusky, Ohio | Perkins High School

Earned First Team All-Ohio in 2024 … Selected as the NW District Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Gained First Team All-District three times … Selected as First Team All-Conference unanimously three times … Claimed Honorable Mention All-Ohio twice … Won a state title in D4; also helped lead team to a state runner-up finish in D4 … Set school’s single-game tackles record with 20 tackles … Part of a Perkins defense that allowed less than seven points per game … Served team as a two-year captain … Also competed in basketball and track & field; acted as a captain for track team … Earned All-Ohio honors in track alongside eight All-Conference accolades … Honor Roll student and Scholar-Athlete … Son of James Young.

Alex Zakhem

Offensive Line | 6-foot-8 | 290 lbs. | Parker, Colo. | Lutheran High School

Earned First Team All-Conference … Selected as conference’s Best Offensive Lineman … Gained Second Team All-State as a senior … Captured school’s Top Lineman Award in 2024 … An Academic All-State selection … Captained team as a senior … Also competed in track & field … Placed fifth in the state in the shotput in 2024 … Son of Diana and Fadi Zakhem.
 

Grace Shirley still gets chills thinking about it. 

The moments she and her Wisconsin teammates stormed the ice in celebration of their National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey Championships in 2021 and 2023 were unforgettable. Winning those championships alongside her older sister, Sophie, added another meaningful layer to the accomplishments. 

“It was amazing. It happened a few years ago, but I still can’t put it into words,” said Shirley, whose alma mater won another NCAA title in March. “We won both national championships together, and it was just a phenomenal experience. The relationships I made with my teammates and all the staff at Wisconsin, it was such a great experience, and it’s one I’ll be proud of and take with me for the rest of my life.”

But while her success on the ice was undeniable, the pressures of college sports revealed a side of the game that doesn’t often make the highlight reel. 

The pressure to perform

From the outside, Shirley had everything a student-athlete could hope for. She was thriving at a powerhouse program, where she scored 21 points in four seasons and earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors three times. But internally, she was struggling with self-doubt.

“There was a lot of just pressure that I was putting on myself,” she admitted. “That was taking a toll.” 

Shirley’s experience is shared by many student-athletes, according to NCAA research data, especially those in women’s sports. In the most recent NCAA Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study, 44% of participants in women’s sports reported feeling overwhelmed constantly or most every day.

Shirley said this weight led her to make one of the most important decisions of her life and reached out to a sports psychologist at Wisconsin — a step supported by the growing presence of mental health services outlined in the NCAA Mental Health Best Practices and  Division I core guarantees. 

For Shirley, the impact of this support far exceeded her expectations.

“Initially it was just for hockey, but I think ultimately the impact that it had on all areas of my life was pretty outstanding,” she said. “The small tips about gaining confidence and being able to remain composed in tough situations helped pretty fast, but I think more of the long-term stuff was the level of gratitude and being able to wake up every day and go about your life and really care about the relationships and the people behind you are what’s stuck with me.”

Shirley’s sessions helped her rediscover balance in her life. As she navigated the challenges of balancing academics, athletics and her personal life, she found herself embracing a broader perspective on her identity.

“For many student-athletes, attempting to find a healthy balance between the academic, athletic and social domains of life can be difficult. During my time in college, utilizing the resources available and working with sports psychologists have had such a positive impact, not only on my athletic performance, but my overall levels of happiness and well-being,” she said. “Obviously it’s important to be performing well, but there’s so many aspects of life that are just as important to foster and take care of as well. I’m really grateful for all those resources that college hockey has provided me.”

Developing her passion at the Emerging Leaders Seminar

As Shirley embraced the impact that mental health counseling had on her own life, she felt drawn to help others in the same way. That passion led her to Providence, where she competed as a graduate transfer during the 2023-24 season and began pursuing a master’s degree in counseling with the goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor. 

This pursuit also led her to attend the 2025 NCAA Emerging Leaders Seminar, a three-day event in February designed to help young professionals develop leadership skills and explore career paths in college athletics?.

“I’m really passionate about mental health counseling,” she said. “It’s always been something that I’ve really found interesting and enlightening. Being at the Emerging Leaders Seminar has really helped with this.”

The seminar, themed “Lead Like a Superhero: Unleash Your Superpowers,” challenged participants to identify their values and understand their unique abilities. Shirley, who had already begun her journey toward becoming a mental health professional, found herself drawn to discussions on how counseling and leadership intersect in college sports. 

“We were able to talk through careers within the field of counseling and how that relates to collegiate athletics, which is definitely a growing field,” she said. “A lot of athletes are seeking mental health services, and I hope to contribute and help the lives of upcoming student-athletes.”

Being the person she needed

Shirley knows firsthand how intimidating it can be to ask for help, but she also understands how important it is.

“I’ve definitely been there where I’ve kind of been scared to talk about things,” she said. 

“It’s important to be reminded that you have people in your corner, you have people that care about you. Whether it’s a mental health counselor, your family or friends, people are there for you. You owe it to yourself to ask for help because at the end of the day nobody deserves to go through those battles on their own.” 

As she prepares to graduate with a master’s degree, Shirley is looking not just to the future of her career but to the impact she hopes to make. She wants to be a resource for student-athletes struggling with the same pressures she experienced and to help them learn to embrace life beyond sports.

“I just want to demonstrate a level of empathy and understanding,” she said. “I was once in that seat. I was someone who was seeking additional services or resources, so I understand. And I want to be that person that can really help and just kind of change your outlook or maybe some of those patterns of thinking. I just really want to demonstrate that I’m there for you, that I care about you and then I want to be with you as you start this process.”

As Shirley reflects on her journey — the championships, the struggles, the growth — she said her biggest win has been learning who she is beyond the game.

“There’s a lot more to life than just sport and there’s more to me than just a hockey player. I’m a daughter and a sister and a really good friend,” she said, before reflecting on her journey more broadly. “Hockey has impacted my life in so many ways, and I have nothing but positive things to say about Wisconsin and Providence. They provided me the resources and support needed for me to reach my full potential as both a hockey player and as a person.”