COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers has reportedly agreed to a deal worth more than $1 million with a company that arranges autograph signings.
Darren Rovell of The Action Network said Ewers’ representatives negotiated the arrangement with GT Sports Marketing.
The deal was later confirmed by ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren, who more specifically put the numbers at three years and $1.4 million.
Ewers announced earlier this month that he was skipping his senior season of high school in order to enroll early at OSU.
At the time, Ewers said it was “not just a financial decision,” and he joined the Buckeyes a little over a week after the team started fall camp.
The decision by the 6-2, 200-pound Southlake, Texas, native was unusual, but not unprecedented.
Buckeyes backups
Due at least in part to his late start, when head coach Ryan Day discussed the backup quarterback position this week, he mentioned only Jack Miller and Kyle McCord as the candidates to take snaps after starter C.J. Stroud for the season opener Thursday against Minnesota.
“Both of those guys have had really meaningful snaps over camp,” Day said. “So as we get closer to the game, and the preparation continues, I’d like to sit here and tell you that I think that one guy’s ahead of the other, but that’s actually not the case. It’d make my life a lot easier, but I wouldn’t say there’s one guy ahead of the other.”
Tuesday on his radio show on 97.1 The Fan/WBNS FM, Day also addressed players making this kind of money now that the NCAA permits it.
“The name, image, likeness thing is something that we’ve been preparing for, for a long time,” he said. “(Athletic director) Gene Smith has been on the committee with the NCAA for the last two years. So we’re in great position here with name, image and likeness.”
Day continued by saying that he wants his players to carefully consider the offers they’re receiving. “These guys have already capitalized on some opportunities,” he said, “but also understanding that there’s pluses and minuses to everything that goes on and being aware of some of the pitfalls that come is the education we’ve given to the guys.”
In addition to the deal with GT Sports Marketing, Ewers is a pitchman for a beverage company.
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