Getting around was another matter. Some wheels needed to be put in motion. Local car dealerships had long been conduits for the whispered inducements coaches or boosters promised talented players.
Then came the seismic summer of 2021, when changes to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules allowed college athletes to earn money without fear of NCAA sanctions. Car dealers nationwide quickly exchanged leases and keys for players boasting about their new ride on social media or even starring in commercials.
Even before Ohio State coaches reached out to Ricart last winter, fans flocked to his direct messages, begging him to help woo Downs.
The player ultimately received a Land Rover from a different dealership, orchestrated via The Foundation, Ohio State's NIL collective, with Downs agreeing to be an ambassador for multiple charity partners.
[
add
]
[
|
|
...
]