It’s no secret that TikTok has become the leading social media outlet for social media influencers.
We’ve seen several individuals gain tons of popularity for their TikTok videos, and unless the outlet gets banned in the near future (which is a serious consideration at the moment), that ain’t changing anytime soon.
It’s also become a major player for college athletes, who now are able to develop and monetize their own personal brands under the NCAA’s NIL policy. And some of these kids are making BANK.
LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne is just one example of someone who has seen a massive rise to fame via TikTok, and that number is growing by the minute.
As college sports’ highest paid female athlete, “Livvy” is making over a million dollars a year in NIL deals, which in a sport like gymnastics, has huge implications for her future.
If you’re a college football player, college basketball player, maybe college baseball and hockey, you have the opportunity to have a lucrative pro sports career following college.
But if you’re in gymnastics like Livvy, or play one of of the dozens of other college sports that do not have many long term, sustainable ways to make money, college might be your biggest opportunity get paid from your athletic skills.
Olivia is a superstar and a unicorn in the space, garnering over 7 million followers on TikTok, however there may be some more who could achieve similar status.
And they’re on the Nebraska Track & Field Team.
Jessica Gardner is one impressive athlete in her own right, as she’s not only a top pole vaulter on the team, but was also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Big Ten All Academic in 2021 and 2022.
Her teammate and friend, Ashley McElmurry, is also making waves on TikTok. She is a two-time Big Ten medalist in the triple jump.
Although Jess doesn’t have nearly as many followers as Dunne quite yet (about 150,000), her vpopularity is growing by the minute.
And with videos starting to tip the 2 million view scale, it’s only a matter of time:
@jessgardner25 we baaaaack @ashleymcelmurry ♬ Dont play with it x candy shop – Hunny Bee 😈
@ashleymcelmurry Locker room toks for the 🏆!! #huskers #gbr #trackandfield ♬ Plain Jane (Remix)(Feat. Nicki Minaj) – A$AP Ferg (feat. Nicki Minaj)
Needless to say, Nebraska has been on the struggle bus over the past few years when it comes to sports, as the once dominant program has seen little success on both the football field and basketball court.
So, Nebraska fans need something or someone to celebrate, and could Gardner be the answer for the time being?
I guess we’ll see in the near future.
@jessgardner25 back with our locker room tiktoks #nebraska #huskers #gbr #trackandfield ♬ original sound – iamkris
