In a surprising twist, Jamier Brown—a top high school football recruit from Wayne High School—has filed a lawsuit against the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). He’s challenging their ban on athletes making money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
This legal move has put real pressure on the OHSAA, pushing them to hold an emergency vote on whether to change their rules. Ohio, believe it or not, is still one of just a handful of states where high school athletes can’t profit from NIL. That’s starting to look pretty outdated.
The Lawsuit That Sparked Change
Brown’s lawsuit isn’t just about him—it’s shaking things up for all high school sports in Ohio. He’s already committed to Ohio State University, and he thinks the NIL ban is unfair.
His case has brought a lot of attention to the issue. The OHSAA has been forced to move much faster than they planned.
Emergency Vote on NIL Bylaws
Because of the lawsuit, the OHSAA is holding an emergency vote among its member schools. This vote, coming up soon, will decide if high school athletes in Ohio can finally start making money from their NIL.
Doug Ute, the OHSAA’s Executive Director, said they’d planned to deal with NIL in May. But Brown’s legal action has sped everything up.
Current Landscape: Ohio vs. Other States
Ohio is one of only six states still blocking high school athletes from NIL earnings. That puts Ohio at a disadvantage, especially as more states move in the opposite direction.
Charles Russo, a sports law professor at the University of Dayton, sees it as a fairness issue. “It seems only fair that if the schools are making money off of the kids, then the kids should be making something,” he said. Hard to argue with that logic, right?
Past Votes and Future Predictions
Ohio’s dealt with this before. Back in 2022, most schools voted against NIL for high schoolers—by a pretty wide margin.
But things have changed quickly. Russo thinks the vote could go differently this time: “Ohio could be put at a competitive disadvantage if it doesn’t join the club.” The mood around NIL rights has shifted, so who knows?
The Temporary Restraining Order
Meanwhile, a Franklin County court has issued a 45-day restraining order. For now, high school athletes in Ohio can profit from their NIL.
It’s a temporary window, but it gives a peek at what life might look like if the bylaw passes. During this period, athletes can do things like:
- Appearances: Get paid for showing up at events and public gigs.
- Licensing: Let companies use their name, image, or likeness in products.
- Social Media: Make money from sponsored posts and endorsements on Instagram, TikTok, and so on.
Implications for Student-Athletes
If the bylaw passes, high school athletes across Ohio could start earning from their NIL without risking their amateur status. That would bring Ohio in line with the growing list of states allowing NIL deals.
Ensuring Fair Play
There are still worries about keeping high school sports fair. The proposed bylaw would set up clear rules so athletes don’t lose their eligibility.
Some likely requirements include:
- Approval Processes: Athletes would need to get NIL deals approved to make sure they’re following the rules.
- Transparency: Full disclosure of NIL agreements to the OHSAA would be required.
- Educational Programs: There’d be programs to help athletes and families understand the legal and financial sides of NIL.
What’s Next?
The situation’s still changing. The upcoming vote feels like a big moment for everyone watching.
If the bylaw gets the green light, Ohio could see a real shift in how it handles high school sports. But if it doesn’t pass? Well, expect this debate to stick around, maybe with more legal wrangling ahead.
Want to dig deeper? Check out the latest updates at Dayton 24/7 Now.
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