Buckeyes unveil team of staff members to assist NIL efforts

On3 imageby:Spencer Holbrook01/24/22

SpencerHolbrook

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has already benefitted from the new era of Name, Image and Likeness in college athletics.

Now the Buckeyes are getting more aggressive in that arena.

The Buckeyes have put together a designated team of staff members, called the Edge Team — headed by Senior Associate Athletic Director of Sports Administration and Student-Athlete Development Carey Hoyt — to work with area businesses and companies, helping connect them to Ohio State athletes.

That team will also help educate potential businesses and donors — as well as the athletes to help make sure it’s all done the right way.

“We are updating our NIL guidelines to allow for the creation of the Edge Team to assist in connecting and coordinating NIL activities for our student-athletes,” Hoyt said in a statement.

“Our guidelines were initially created to be restrictive, but now that we have a better understanding of NIL, it’s clear that we can provide more assistance in connecting student-athletes with interested brands. By allowing some OSU staff to interact with the brands and to educate and answer questions, we can eliminate hesitancy from brands, and donors, who were concerned about breaking rules.”

The Buckeyes have already seen the rewards on NIL legislation that was passed last season. And they’re now ready to help their stars take full advantage moving forward.

“Ohio State and our guys have benefited tremendously from NIL,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said last month. “There’s been a lot of opportunities for our guys — and they’ve really capitalized on that.

“However, the understanding of something coming in on the front end is something that we cannot be a part of. The integrity of this school and how we do things is going to be important for us. … I think that’s very complicated for the sport itself.”

But the athletic department is working to simplify that through education and assistance.

Ohio State is now getting more involved in helping its players benefit from the powerful brand it provides. It can only get stronger as NIL efforts increase inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

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