Up in Columbus, the Buckeyes have a lot of returning talent for the 2024 campaign, and are locking in another top recruiting class thanks to a ton of NIL money. Granted, that’s no guarantee that Ryan Day is about to have a Natty in hand by years’ end, but let’s face it, it doesn’t hurt to have as many horses in the stable as possible to be competitive. There’s a short read here from Egbuka about what compelled him to return for an additional season as opposed to chasing the NFL dream:
Who is to blame him, really? “The implications” don’t really have to be spelled out…cash in hand versus taking your chance on draft money makes sense here, even with the 2024 draft room of receivers being less than stellar.
The biggest thing that came to mind doesn’t really have anything to do with tOSU, though. It kind of hit me that this happened seven seasons ago, in a day and age without NIL money:
Adapting to the changing landscape of college football recruiting has been something Smart has handled well enough, but thinking back on it, being able to convince these guys to return in 2017 surely kick-started something in the right direction for Kirby and the future of his program. And as far as I could tell, there wasn’t a Lamborghini or a sweet compensation package waiting on the four of them to convince them to come back.
When you see the video above, it’s hard not to see them involved in critical plays in the Rose Bowl, the absolute joy of winning that game, as well as the absolutely crushing image of Michel and Chubb on the sideline in the wake of 2nd and 26.
it makes me wonder if the same feelings will be as deep in the NIL era. Either way, DGDs all of those guys. Glad they came back for a magical Bulldog season.
They changed everything. There is no Rose bowl without them. Dam shame they didn’t win their last game. High character team first leaders.
Should be the back drop for ABC…GO DAWGS!!
No NIL money is going to outweigh the NFL money for a day 1 or 2 player.
Beck may have come back for some money in hand, but he made it clear that it was about unfinished business and improving his draft stock to a high 1st round selection. The 4 DGDs from 2016 didn’t want that 8-5 season to be their legacy.
The second article titled “House settlement could spark new wave of antitrust lawsuits”, is the dumbest thing I have ever seem concerning NIL.
There will be plenty of athletes that don’t sign on the suit and have their own attorneys go for more. The Morgan and Morgan’s of the world will be all in their ears ready to fleece all they can.