Top NIL junior Miles Russell commits to Florida State golf

July 1, 2025

The college golf landscape just shifted.

Miles Russell, the No. 1 junior in America, announced his verbal commitment to Florida State University on Monday—a decision that signals the Seminoles' emergence as a genuine NIL powerhouse.

Russell, currently ranked No. 2 in the Golf NIL High School Boys Rankings, bolsters an already strong program as Florida State lands one of the most highly touted recruits in junior golf. The Jacksonville Beach native represents a major addition to Coach Trey Jones' program, bringing with him a resume that includes wins at the Junior PGA Championship, Junior Players Championship, and the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.

"Beyond excited to announce my commitment to Florida State University! I'm incredibly grateful to my family for their endless support, my friends, Coach Ramon Bescansa for everything he's done to help me along the way and Coach Jones for this amazing opportunity. Can't wait to get to Tallahassee — Go Noles!" Russell posted on Instagram.

Florida State-bound Miles Russell at the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship | Debby Wong/ZUMA Press Wire

The sixteen-year-old already has an extensive NIL portfolio with TaylorMade, Nike, Transcend Capital Advisors, The Perfect Putter, Liberty National Golf Club, and Golf and Body, setting him up to capitalize on college golf's new financial landscape.

He's betting on the right program. The Seminoles have become a dominant force, reaching the finals of the NCAA Championship in 2024 and producing Luke Clanton, who recently earned his tour card via PGA Tour Accelerated.

Clanton's path from Tallahassee to the PGA Tour reinforces the FSU-to-pro pipeline that Russell can follow. The former World No. 1, who signed with Nike just before joining the professional ranks, showed that Florida State provides the ideal launching pad for players looking to maximize their NIL value while competing at the highest amateur level.

The timing for Russell couldn't be better. While the details of his offer haven't been confirmed, new House settlement rules mean Florida State likely presented a recruiting package that included NIL compensation—above and beyond what he will earn through athlete revenue-sharing, which kicks off with the 2025-26 school year. With several existing sponsors in place, Russell has multiple revenue streams at his disposal, making the financial equation even more attractive.

Russell knows the game. With his NIL on lock, new payout rules kicking in, and a commitment to a program that develops pros, he's maximizing every angle available.