The Football Fever: Schottenstein, Jones starting new NIL fund for OSU athletes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Two die-hard Buckeyes, Brian Schottenstein and Cardale Jones, have joined forces to launch a new NIL fund for Ohio State athletes.
The fund is expected to go public around the Spring Football game and they hope to harness the financial power of Buckeye Nation in the process.
Schottenstein said the new fund is a response to the financial windfall schools like Texas and Texas A&M are finding in their vast fan bases and its impact on recruiting. The NIL funds are not set up by the schools and must operate separately.
Schottenstein is a longtime fan and booster for OSU sports. Jones help quarterback the Buckeyes to the National Championship in 2014, including wins over Alabama and Oregon.
In fact, Jones was the Bucks third-string quarterback and was forced to top of the depth chart when Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett were sidelined by injury.
"This really brings my two passions together, OSU sports and local charities," Schottenstein told ABC-6 Monday.
Jones owns another NIL fund, Ten Talents, that was set up last summer.
"This is not always about the biggest names on the football team but helping those in Olympic sports as well," said Jones. "We hope to have an impact on athletes who are not carrying a full athletic scholarship."
The group awaits a 501-C3 exemption in about 40 to 60 days, Schottenstein said. They are currently choosing board members and pointing toward an April debut.
