Ohio State has spent a lot of money to build its football team over the last few weeks. The Buckeyes aren’t signing any checks directly, because that would constitute an NCAA violation, but its top NIL arm is dishing out a lot of dough.
Its transfer portal haul puts Ryan Day in a position where he must succeed during the 2024 college football season. He might be coaching for his job!
- Five-star Alabama safety Caleb Downs
- Five-star Alabama quarterback Julian Sayin
- Five-star Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins
- Alabama starting center Seth McLaughlin
- Kansas State starting quarterback Will Howard
That doesn’t include whatever star running back TreVeyon Henderson is set to receive for his return to Columbus. Keeping him from entering the NFL Draft couldn’t have been cheap.
In addition, Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class currently ranks second in the country with two five-stars (including the nation’s top recruit, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith), 11 four-stars and seven three-stars.
Talent of such caliber costs money in the modern era and Lane Kiffin is taking notice!
THE Foundation either came into some significant money over the last few months, or has been sitting on its wealth in an effort to strike when the iron is hot. Unless top athletes are taking a major discount to play for the Buckeyes, NIL money is flowing!
Lane Kiffin attuned to the spending.
Kiffin has a great understanding of the role that finances play in the modern era. He has been very vocal about the issues with Name, Image and Likeness while also taking advantage of the current system. The Rebels, with help from the Grove Collective, have landed 15 transfers this offseason.
At the same time, Ole Miss has also seen players leave.
That list of outgoing transfers includes Judkins, who Kiffin and the staff let walk for a variety of reasons — including an unwillingness to meet his NIL request. Ohio State was apparently willing to pay the number that Judkins wanted for what is essentially a one-year rental.
As the Buckeyes continue to land big names, Kiffin alluded to the cost of their class. He shared an article titled ‘REPORT: Ohio State Buckeyes Spent $13 Million And Counting In NIL Money In Attempt To Field Elite Roster’ with a 🧐 emoji on X, formerly known as Twitter.
There are a lot of holes in the very loose “report” and it doesn’t really come with any definitive sourcing or backing. However, the logic it presents adds up.
And the point is the same: Ohio State is spending serious money.
Three or four-star (depending on where you look) offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong signed with the Buckeyes during the Early Signing Period. He responded back to Kiffin with two words.
Womp Womp
— @DeonArmstrong30 on X, formerly known as Twitter
While hilarious, the staff in Columbus can’t love that their incoming freshman is chirping one of the most active coaches on social media. Especially because he is essentially saying “too bad, so sad” to Lane Kiffin while alluding to the legitimacy of the NIL ongoings.
Interestingly enough, Armstrong’s chirp comes less than one month after Ohio State offensive lineman Carson Hinzman said that his program “doesn’t really like to pay guys a whole lot.”
A switch must have flipped over the last few weeks. Somebody, somewhere, is helping to bank roll THE Foundation’s recent efforts in the transfer portal.
Armstrong may or may not be a benefactor, but his new teammates most certainly are!