Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith signed one of his jerseys for a local tattoo shop in Columbus. That sentence would result in severe NCAA sanctions just 15 years ago.
In fact, it did!
The Buckeyes were at the center of a major college football scandal in 2010. Five players, including star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for receiving improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor and became known as the ‘Tattoo 5.’ They were also found guilty of selling/distributing game-worn merchandise, which was explicitly illegal at the time.
Not only did the players get suspended, a joint investigation by the NCAA, FBI and U.S. Department of Justice ultimately led to the resignation of legendary head coach Jim Tressel. He received a five-year show cause. Ohio State was forced to vacate all of its wins from the 2010 season (including the 2011 Sugar Bowl victory) and banned from the postseason in 2012. The program was also placed on probation for two years and lost five scholarships over three years.
The scandal, which was actually much more expansive than just a tattoo, changed the course of college football history forever. It was a huge deal that sent shockwaves across the sport.
However, the same behavior is completely legal today.
In the era of Name, Image and Likeness, players are welcome to do with their merchandise as they please. They are allowed to get paid for appearances or posts on social media. They are allowed to receive free services or benefits in exchange for a good and/or service.
More specifically, they are allowed to trade a signed jersey for a tattoo. Ask Jeremiah Smith!
The 19-year-old wide receiver phenom got a new tattoo earlier this week at Tattoo Kings & Cuts in Columbus. It is unclear as to whether he paid any money for the tattoo but he did provide the parlor with a signed jersey. Or, at the very least, signed a jersey for the shop.
15 years ago, the above Instagram post would’ve resulted in a massive NCAA investigation and subsequent sanctions. Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State’s ‘Tattoo 5’ are infamous for the very same thing that Jeremiah Smith did, legally, in 2025. Oh how far we have come!