The Ohio State Buckeyes have the money to spend on recruiting, despite rumors exaggerating the demise of the program's spending power. On3's Jeremy Birmingham reports that the team let recruits know before recent scheduled visits what the financial numbers were, leading to cancellations.
As one would expect, there was anxiety on if the program truly has endless pockets to spend on NIL/rev-share. Birmingham squashed those worries by simply listing the high-priced recruits who still made the trip.
“There were a rash of expected visitors who didn't make their trips, and there were major disparities in the NIL discussion in some instances. That knowledge should provide some insight into the pursuits of David Gabriel-Georges, Benny Easter Jr., and (Marcus) Fakatou. We can safely assume that the numbers in those cases are, if not agreed upon in some way, at least close enough for both sides to trust the interest in genuine and sincere. For the Buckeyes fan who worries about Ohio State not going far enough from a resources standpoint, the fact that DGG, Easter, and Fakatou made their trips should quiet that concern a little," Birmingham wrote.
Baylor Red Raiders (TN) running back David Gabriel-Georges was clearly high enough of a priority for the program that they were willing to cancel other visits and make a point about how wanted he is. That point seemingly got through to DGG, who shared that message with reporters.
Meanwhile, Humble, Texas, receiver Benny Easter Jr., a Texas Tech Red Raiders commit, wouldn't come cheap for a flip from oil-money-rich TTU. Sierra Canyon defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou wouldn't either, coming from the Los Angeles metro.
Ryan Day and Mark Pantoni are clearly picking their spots. Not everyone needs to come on a visit if they're asking for too much, or if the Ohio State University isn't offering enough. In that way, recruiting is becoming more cut-and-dried. It certainly doesn't mean the Buckeyes are a less attractive team. If anything, it says the opposite.
Ohio State is the prize. Not any recruit asking for a bag.
A clear hierarchy has been formed. OSU will look your way if you are worth it and are reasonable with financial expectations. That the Buckeyes can, and have, turned players away for not being in sync on salary is a sign that the Ohio State University knows its worth.
And the Buckeyes now know that their recruiting visits have an increased aura. Exclusivity is a major selling point across the entirety of modern commerce, and recruits now recognize that only the best of the best, or those willing to sacrifice to end up in Columbus, will explore the "Shoe" and Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The program's time is too valuable to waste. That should resonate.
Hopefully, the message that should resonate with fans is that this very awake juggernaut is not closing its eyes anytime soon. The Ohio State University hasn't gone broke. If anything, it has become as efficient as possible in finding players serious about suiting up in the Scarlet and Gray.
Add us as a preferred source on Google