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I know there’s been some pretty crazy news in the world of college football lately, but I have to admit, this one that involves Ohio State, I did not see coming.
It’s far from a done deal, but according to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel, 5-star 2022 quarterback commit Quinn Ewers is leaning towards skipping his senior season of high school ball at Southlake Carroll High School, and enrolling early at Ohio State.
It all has to do with the new ability for college athletes to make money off of their name, image, and likeness. While Ewers is unquestionably one of the most marketable players out there right now with his golden locks of a mullet and high profile in the state of Texas, he is unable to capitalize on it before he gets to college. He is well known as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 class according to multiple recruiting sites.
However, there is a problem. The state of Texas’ University Interscholastic League informed the Ewers family in an email Monday that any attempt for Ewers to profit off his NIL would be in violation of Texas’ recent legislation regarding Name Image and Likeness. Enrolling at Ohio State would allow him to get around that and potentially land some serious endorsement deals.
According to the story, he already has a couple of lucrative offers but can’t do anything about it currently until arriving on campus which would normally be as an early enrollee next year at the earliest.
So, it’s a question those at the top of the recruiting food chain will have to address and decide upon in the new world we’re living in. For Ewers, he’s going through that process now with his family, but says he’s leaning towards jumping into the new land of college endorsements early, one that could potentially have him making seven figures.
“I don’t really know, I don’t have a final decision made quite yet,” Ewers said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports on Wednesday. “I’m leaning toward leaving and going up to Ohio, just so I don’t have to deal with [University Interscholastic League] stuff and can get comfortable with Ohio and Columbus and start to learn.”
Yahoo Exclusive: No. 1 overall recruit Quinn Ewers tells @yahoosports he’s “leaning” toward skipping senior HS year and attending Ohio State. Ewers could then sign NIL deals worth nearly seven figures, which aren’t allowed in Texas for high school players. https://t.co/KFcXyafcQs
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
Ewers is in a position to take an online class and have enough credits to graduate high school early so that he can enroll in time for the 2021 season (wouldn’t that add some more intrigue to the quarterback battle). His parents would rather him take the traditional route, but admit that there are things beyond their control with the situation, and that they’d almost be foolish not to consider the financial ramifications.
“I don’t think we’re here to fight them or question the UIL, but we hold a different opinion, and we think our opinion is valid,” Curtis Ewers told Yahoo Sports. “We didn’t ask for this situation, but it’s upon us. It’s our reality. We don’t want Quinn to be a martyr here for everyone who comes behind him. But right now, we are guided by what’s the best for Quinn.”
So now, it looks like Ewers will have to decide between having all that goes with enjoying his senior year of high school and potentially winning a Texas high school football state title, or forging a path that many others might look to take.
We’ll stay on top of this as it develops. There is a decision expected to be made sometime this week.
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