A whole new world for college sports began Thursday when laws in Alabama and several other states took effect allowing athletes to be paid for their name, image and likeness.

The NCAA still prohibits players from being financially induced to attend or remain at a particular school, but now those players can, for instance, reach deals with companies to endorse products — with some restrictions.

Social media is a powerful marketing force in 2021, and Tide athletes with the largest social media followings stand to benefit the most from potential sponsorship revenue. The university recognized that when it announced a brand management program that would help its athletes “maximizing personal social media platforms.”

With money now on the table, Alabama athletes in recent weeks have posted messages to their social media accounts inviting contact about business deals.

But which have the most followers and the most leverage for potential income?

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That list begins not with a football player but with junior men’s basketball guard Jahvon Quinerly, who appears to top Tide athletes in both Instagram followers (450,000) and Twitter followers (38,600). That is more than five times the Instagram followers of any Alabama football player and double the top football player’s followers on Twitter.

Part of Quinerly’s social media following dates to high school, when he was part of the “Jelly Fam” that made a particular type of finger-roll basket go viral online. Quinerly wrote on Twitter in March, “This is a movement that has the potential to not only put ourselves in better positions financially but our families as well.”

Incoming freshman guard JD Davison — a former five-star recruit, like Quinerly — is another potential marketing force on Instagram, boasting almost 350,000 followers. And guard Nimari Burnett, a former McDonald’s All-American who transferred this offseason from Texas Tech, has more than 58,000 followers on that platform. That is more than all but three football players.

Alabama’s top returning softball star also bests any football player in Instagram and Twitter followers. Pitcher Montana Fouts, whose stardom exploded with a perfect game in the Women’s College World Series last month, has 112,000 followers on Instagram and 26,000 on Twitter in addition to more than 129,000 fans on TikTok. Softball teammate Jenna Johnson has a sizable Instagram following of 34,900.

Some Tide gymnasts have followings that exceed most football players’. Emily Gaskins has 31,600 followers on Instagram, while Shallon Olsen boasts 18,700 and Lexi Graber has accumulated 17,100. Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday that an LSU gymnast with 1.1 million Instagram followers, Olivia Dunne, is expected to earn more from loosened NIL rules than any other college athlete.

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In track and field, pole vaulter Riley White has 32,000 followers on Instagram and sprinter Amari Brown has 26,100 — more than the vast majority of Tide football players.

RELATED: Paid college athletes will reform, improve the NCAA

With bona fide stars such as DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Mac Jones and Najee Harris gone to the NFL, the football program has fewer established brands entering the fall season. Predictably, quarterback Bryce Young — a five-star recruit who played sparingly as a freshman last season — is at or near the top of the lists with his social media presence.

Other players with large followings tend to fall into at least one of three categories: (1) former top recruits, (2) local ties to Alabama, and (3) skill position players.

Wide receivers in particular are well-followed, with presumptive starting wideouts John Metchie and Slade Bolden high on the lists along with several of the Tide’s highly-rated receiver prospects the past two recruiting cycles.

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Offensive and defensive linemen could be at a disadvantage in earning social media marketing income. Left tackle Evan Neal, widely projected as a top 10 NFL draft pick next spring, does not rank within the top 20 in Instagram or Twitter followers among Tide football players.

Tuscaloosa native and likely starting running back Brian Robinson is Alabama’s second-most followed player on Twitter, while defensive backs in Pinson Valley’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Hewitt-Trussville’s Malachi Moore and Pierce Quick are also popular follows.

Backup quarterback Paul Tyson, who has not attempted a pass in two seasons at Alabama, is among the top 20 in Instagram followers and top 10 in Twitter followers. The great-grandson of Bear Bryant’s path to playing time remains unclear behind Young and, beginning next season, five-star prospect Ty Simpson — but his opportunity to earn money at Alabama is real.

Freshman linebacker Kendrick Blackshire, a four-star recruit from Texas, will also be among the most followed Alabama players on social media when he arrives on campus this summer.

Most Instagram followers, Alabama football players:

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1. QB Bryce Young — 82,300
2. ILB Kendrick Blackshire — 69,600
3. WR John Metchie — 64,000
4. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry — 52,400
5. DB Malachi Moore — 45,800
6. WR Agiye Hall — 42,500
7. RB Trey Sanders — 32,200
8. WR Slade Bolden — 29,100
9. WR Traeshon Holden — 28,600
10. WR Javon Baker — 28,600
11. RB Brian Robinson, Jr. — 27,400
12. WR Jameson Williams — 25,500
13. ILB Henry To’oto’o — 23,100
14. ILB Christian Harris — 22,200
15. S Jordan Battle — 19,700
16. S Daniel Wright — 18,600
17. WR Ja’Corey Brooks — 17,600
18. WR Xavier Williams — 17,500
19. QB Paul Tyson — 16,200
20. CB Josh Jobe — 15,800

Most Twitter followers, Alabama football players:

1. ILB Henry To’oto’o — 17,200
2. RB Brian Robinson, Jr. — 17,100
3. QB Bryce Young — 16,000
4. RB Trey Sanders — 15,300
5. DB Malachi Moore — 14,300
6. WR John Metchie — 13,300
7. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry — 13,200
8. QB Paul Tyson — 11,700
9. WR Slade Bolden — 10,600
10. S Jordan Battle — 10,400
11. DL LaBryan Ray — 10,400
12. ILB Kendrick Blackshire — 10,300
13. ILB Christian Harris — 9,789
14. CB Josh Jobe — 9,000
15. OL Chris Owens — 8,565
16. OL Pierce Quick — 8,435
17. OLB Christopher Allen — 8,343
18. DL Phidarian Mathis — 7,979
19. S Terrion Arnold — 7,876
20. WR Agiye Hall — 7,725

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.