Report: Ohio State Buckeyes Spent $13 Million and Counting in NIL Money in Attempt to Field Elite Roster

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day spoke to about 100 members of the Columbus business community in 2022 regarding NIL, and he told them that it would take $13 million to keep Ohio State football at the top, per Cleveland.com

While day didn’t reach that number until this year, it is because it is part of his policy regarding the wild west nature of NIL. In the Cleveland.com article, Day compared the lawless nature of NIL to that of a speed limit.

“If the speed limits 45 miles per hour, and you drive 45 miles per hour, a lot of people are going to pass you by,” Day said. “If you go too fast, you’re going to get pulled over.”

During that time Day said top-tier college quarterbacks were worth $2 million, which was corroborated by Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule.

Day also went on to say that elite offensive tackles and edge rushers were about $1 million. Day was spot on, if not a little bit under his original estimate in 2022 as he has now spent $13 million to return one of the best rosters in college football.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are returning multiple NFL-ready players with NIL money

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been big players in the transfer portal this offseason, but they have also gotten many guys to forego the NFL draft and return for another year.

Ohio State has been the landing spot for one of the top running backs in the portal in former Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins as well as one of the most highly-touted quarterbacks in the portal in former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard. The Buckeyes also added former Alabama center Seth Mclaughlin.

Ohio State lost some key receivers in Julian Fleming and Noah Rogers, but the players they have convinced to return make up one of the best lists in the country.

Headlining the returns for the Ohio State Buckeyes are wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, defensive back Denzel Burke and running back TreVeyon Henderson. All three offensive weapons were surefire draft picks had they entered the 2024 NFL draft.

According to NFL Draft Buzz, Egbuka was projected to be a late first-round pick. Burke was projected to be a second-round pick, and Henderson a third-round pick.

Other NFL-ready players that decided to return to Ohio State include linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, guard Donovan Jackson, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, defensive back Lathan Ransom and defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau.

It is unclear how the $13 million dollars was distributed amongst the Ohio State roster. The money require to keep players that could’ve been drafted on top of top transfer portal recruits reportedly adds up to that $13 million, meaning there is likely a lot of disparity in how much certain players are getting paid.

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