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OSU Receivers Reportedly Offered Millions Of NIL Dollars To Transfer

By January 24, 2025 (1:30 pm)Football

Ohio State’s national championship contributors are in high demand according to On3’s Pete Nakos. Days after propelling Ohio State to a 34-23 national championship victory over Notre Dame, receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate have received lucrative offers from other programs.

Smith, the Big Ten receiver of the Year and Freshman of the Year, was reportedly offered $4.5-5 million from other programs after hauling in 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. According to Nakos, Smith will make at least $3 million next season and that Ohio State is willing to do whatever it takes to keep him.

Tate didn’t have quite as prolific of a season as Smith, but he was still dependable for the Buckeyes as a sophomore. The Chicago native finished the year with 733 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and while Ohio State is going through what it would to keep him financially, Nakos reported he is set to command over $1 million next year.

The national championship victory may be fresh in the minds of Buckeye fans, but the next two days are a critical negotiation period for the Ohio State coaching staff, as the team’s transfer portal window will close on Saturday night, five days after the team’s last game.

Nakos also mentioned that the Buckeyes will make cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. a priority heading into his junior season.

For linebacker Sonny Styles, the NFL could also be a possibility after spending his third season with the program. Nakos included Styles as a critical NFL decision that the Buckeyes are working through.

While many Ohio State fans are understandably still focused on the accomplishments of the 2024 team, the 2025 season could be a bit more difficult for the Buckeye coaching staff. The Buckeyes will likely have to replace at least 15 starters from their national championship team, with so many players headed for graduation or the draft. The Buckeyes certainly won’t want any more players to depart from the team through the transfer portal.

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