Two Ohio State football players take different approach to NIL

A couple of Ohio State football players have taken a different approach to receiving endorsements now that NIL is legal.

Since NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) was implemented on July 1st for college athletes, most have signed endorsement deals of one kind or another. Ohio State football players Teradja Mitchell and Harry Miller are taking a different approach to NIL.

Mitchell, a senior who is expected to start at Will linebacker, has started his own clothing line. The native of Virginia Beach told BuckeyesNow he is putting his major to good use,

"“I’ve wanted to start a clothing brand for a while now. My major is Fashion and Retail Studies and being from a fashion hub like Virginia, where you have icons like Pharrell, Missy Elliott and Pusha T, it’s always inspired me to take that same path.”"

His ability to think outside the box is evident in the name he chose for his fledgling business: Above the Realm. Mitchell explains his choice this way,

"“The message behind it all is to strive to a level out of this world while also bringing an abstract street wear brand to the world for everyone to wear – even people who aren’t sports fans, which is why I didn’t involve sports.”"

Harry Miller has created a clothing line as well, but he’s using his for a different purpose. All of the profits from Miller’s M4N products will go to provide help at a school in Las Brasiles, Nicaragua. The Buckeye offensive lineman has done mission work there since he was in middle school and is something he is very passionate about. Miller says the proceeds will go towards providing education, food, medicine, therapy, and discipleship. He told The Columbus Dispatch,

"“I’m tremendously fortunate to have good friends, a good family support system, clothes, food. I have my guitars and my books, so there’s not really much else I’m looking to buy. The reality is that the money can get stretched a lot further for a lot more people, and therefore, it’s the most utilitarian thing to do. It would be uncouth of me to not take note of that, especially for a community that’s been so supportive of me for upwards of a decade now. They deserve it.”"

Miller, who carries a 4.0 GPA in mechanical engineering, says there are many other players who want to use NIL for a similar purpose,

"“I think the only reason I was able to jump on something quickly was because I had a history with it. Every locker room is full of great guys, and you give a guy a cause that he cares about, I think there isn’t anything he would not do to support that cause.”"

Two Buckeyes taking a different approach to NIL. One as a businessman. One as a philanthropist. There is a lot of skepticism about NIL, but Mitchell and Miller are showing how it can be used in very positive ways.

You can find Teradja Mitchell’s Above the Realm line by searching the name on Instagram. Harry Miller’s H4N products can be found by clicking here.