Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith's plan for first NFL paycheck perfectly explains the NIL era

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is going to receive a paycheck from an NFL team soon.

Smith is entering his junior season at Ohio State, and he's likely going to be a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. For as good as he looked at OSU, there's a chance he goes in the top five.

All 32 teams would gladly take a wide receiver like Smith. He's got Hall of Fame potential, and he's not even out of college yet. With that said, the college ranks have been good for the 6-foot-3, 223-pound wideout out of Miami Gardens, Florida.

There used to be a time when a star college football player had to wait to "cash in" on his talent. Being a student-athlete used to mean having a scholarship. Now it means getting paid by your school via revenue sharing. For the stars, it also means getting millions via NIL deals.

So, yes, Smith will soon get an NFL paycheck. He doesn't necessarily need it, though.

He was recently asked what his first NFL paycheck will go toward, and his answer was very telling of what life is like for elite athletes in the NIL era.

“I think I’m gonna save it,” Smith said. “There’s no reason for me to spend it. I was blessed to come in the NIL era, spend whatever endorsements I get once I get to the NFL.”