Former NFL star rips Nike, and it has everything to do with who Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has become in college football

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Adam Holt | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 9:15 PM ET

The college football world got a bit of a shakeup on Wednesday morning, and it heavily involved the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith inked a massive NIL contract with Adidas, the biggest rival of Nike. Nike is currently the Buckeyes’ official team sponsor.

This news, among some other sponsorship deals, shook up the sports world, and former athletes took notice of the major shift.

Dez Bryant rips Nike after Jeremiah Smith news

Following the news regarding Smith's swap, former Dallas Cowboys star wideout Dez Bryant did not pull any punches, saying that Nike is "about to lose all credibility" and questioning how they lost the premier WR in the sport to their bitter rival.

Nike about to lose all credibility How did they lose Jeremiah Smith to adidas?
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 2, 2025

Nike about to lose all credibility How did they lose Jeremiah Smith to adidas? -- Dez Bryant

Bryant's reaction mimicked those of plenty of fans, too. Ohio State is one of the most well-known Nike teams around college athletics, so plenty of folks were surprised to see a star player make this choice at this time.

Smith enters the 2025 college football season as the sport’s biggest brand name without the surname Manning after helping spark the Buckeyes to the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship with a Big Ten-best 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 receptions as a true freshman.

But given Nike’s longstanding relationship with Ohio State, which is in the midst of a 15-year apparel agreement that began in 2018, Smith’s signing with Nike’s biggest brand rival is already sending shockwaves through the sports apparel world. -- On3.com

Ohio State’s most marketable player is now an Adidas-sponsored athlete, set to promote the brand both on the field and across his social media platforms. In high school, Smith played for an Adidas-sponsored 7-on-7 team, so the partnership runs deep. This move, while unexpected to some, makes perfect sense given his history with the brand. -- Brandon Little

Jeremiah Smith's recent comments on QB

The Buckeyes, along with this sponsorship drama, are right in the middle of a quarterback competition. Many expect Julian Sayin to end up being the offense's starter, but that hasn't become official from the mouth of head coach Ryan Day quite yet.

Smith had a gleaming review of Sayin recently when talking with The Athletic. There is clear confidence in the young QB from his top teammate - and potentially others.

“That arm is different,” Smith said, via The Athletic. “He can make any and every throw. Just a smart quarterback. Like me, he’s a little quiet. But he’s starting to come out of his shell. He’s definitely going to be a guy. It’s going to be scary for opponents.”

All in all, this recent news for Smith proves two factors. He is his own player, and he understands his value. It remains to be seen when/if other players follow him down this NIL road with a swap of sponsorships away from Nike as well. Only time will tell.