Ohio State lost out on one of the top prospects in college football on Friday when Felix Ojo made a surprising pick. With a final four of Florida, Michigan, Texas, and OSU, Ojo had recently shared that it was the Longhorns and Buckeyes who were leading the pack. Most recruiting experts predicted the No. 1 rated player in the state of Texas would land in Austin, but in a shocking turn of events, Ojo picked… Texas Tech?
The Red Raiders didn’t even make the short list, so how did Ojo end up in Lubbock? Follow the money. According to his agent, Derrick Shelby, Tech offered the five-star prospect a three-year deal worth $5.1 million. The money is being funded by megabooster and Matador Club founder Chad Campbell, who has been flexing his financial power as of late. The deal will pay Ojo $1.2 in year one, $1.6 in year two, and jumps to $2.1 in the final year.
We can’t fault the young man for taking the best financial deal available, but when will this madness stop? This is not what NIL was supposed to be, with contracts to play for certain programs. The use of Name, Image, and Likeness was meant to allow student athletes to sign autographs or partner with a local car dealership to appear in commercials and get compensation.
Ryan Day has been adamant that if money is the first priority for a recruit, that recruit probably isn’t a good fit with the Buckeye football program. Ojo talked a good game, sharing how he was looking for a family feel, great culture, and a place where he could be developed. And maybe Texas Tech offers all of those, but one thing is clear: the biggest factor in his recruitment was the almighty dollar.
Ohio State may have lost out on a generational talent, or maybe the Buckeyes dodged a bullet. Only time will tell, but Ryan Day is looking more and more like a genius refusing to get into bidding wars for top talent, instead looking for dogs who want to compete and want to be developed.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State lost out on five-star offensive lineman Felix Ojo and here’s the price tag
Reporting by Mark Russell, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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