Forbes’ 100 Highest Paid Athletes list of 2017 features 11 former SEC players

Overall, the percentage of high school prospects that make it to the professional level is quite small; even being a five-star “can’t miss prospect” doesn’t guarantee much for some prospects. Not only have these 11 former SEC performers beaten the odds, but they’ve also joined an even more exclusive club representing the wealthiest 100 athletes in the world for 2017.

In Forbes’ latest list of the annual Top 100 Highest Paid Athletes, the former SEC player that ranks highest on the list is former Mississippi State star defensive lineman Fletcher Cox. In total, six football players, four basketball players, and one baseball player made the list.

Soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ranked No. 1 this year with a total combined pay of $93 million with LeBron James finishing just behind him with $86.2 million in total pay for 2017.

Here’s the total list of former SEC players in the Top 100:

#27. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State: Pay=$33.4 M Salary=$33.3 Endorsements= $75k

#34. Eric Berry, Tennessee: Pay=$31.1 M Salary=$30.8 M Endorsements= $300k

#36. David Price, Vanderbilt: Pay=$30.6 M Salary=$30 M Endorsements= $550k

#39. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina: Pay=$29.3 M Salary=$29.1 Endorsements= $200k

#44 (tie). Anthony Davis, Kentucky: Pay=$28.1 M Salary=$22.1 Endorsements= $6 M

#44 (tie). Al Horford, Florida: Pay=$28.1 M Salary=$26.6 Endorsements= $1.5 M

#44 (tie). Von Miller, Texas A&M: Pay=$28.1 M Salary=$25.1 Endorsements= $3 M

#56. Cam Newton, Auburn: Pay=$26 M Salary=$13 M Endorsements= $13 M

#63. Eli Manning, Ole Miss: Pay=$25 M Salary=$18 M Endorsements= $7 M

#71. Bradley Beal, Florida: Pay=$23.3 M Salary=$22.1 M Endorsements= $1.2 M

#76. Chandler Parsons, Florida: Pay=$22.9 M Salary=$22.1 Endorsements= $750k

Michael Wayne Bratton

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com