Ohio State QB Kyle McCord signs NIL deal with Mark Wahlberg

A college quarterback signing an NIL endorsement deal with a local car dealership usually isn’t that big of a deal. However, when that QB is Ohio State’s Kyle McCord, and the car dealership is Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet of Columbus, then it is news.

Wahlberg, the award-winning actor and former rapper, owns several dealerships around the country that sell Chevrolet, Buick GMC, and Airstream through his partnership with car dealer Jay Feldman. However, the Columbus location was the partners’ first, and the business already has an NIL deal with Buckeyes star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

As part of the NIL deal, McCord will endorse the dealership in return, he will be driving a 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 around the Ohio State campus.

Currently, McCord, who was the No. 49 overall recruit in 2021, is locked in a battle with Devin Brown — the No. 46 recruit from that class — for the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job.  

This NIL deal with Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet could mean that McCord has the edge to get the starting signal-caller gig in Columbus this season.

The dealership’s general manager, Brian Gilmore, has said the company’s selection process for NIL sponsorships is “very selective,” which could mean they know that McCord is likely the QB to replace C.J. Stroud, last year’s signal-caller who was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft of the Houston Texans.

Either way, Kyle McCloud has a sweet ride, an even sweeter NIL partnership, and maybe the next step is getting to meet one of the most famous actors in Hollywood.