Former Ohio State quarterback starting an NIL agency

Former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones is starting an NIL agency named Ten Talents NIL. According to a press release, the agency will offer “management, legal counsel, marketing, and crisis communications expertise to student-athletes.”

Jones played three seasons with the Buckeyes from 2013-15. He helped lead Ohio State to a national championship in 2014-15, the first season of the College Football Playoff.

Jones is joined in the venture by others with legal or marketing backgrounds, including David M. DeVillers, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

Jones testified during hearings regarding an Ohio bill protecting NIL revenue for college athletes. The language of that bill was eventually included as an amendment in the state budget. He also spoke at Governor Mike DeWine’s signing of an executive order protecting the same rights.

A Supreme Court ruling in late June allowed college athletes the opportunity to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL). Since then, thousands of athletes have signed endorsement deals.

Several universities have formed a partnership with The Brandr Group to sell jerseys with player names on the back. Florida is the latest school, but the list includes Alabama, Ohio State, Texas and others.

The seismic shift has resulted in a big payday for plenty of star athletes. It has been rumored that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is nearing the $1 million mark from his NIL endorsements.

Cardale Jones certainly could have benefitted from an NIL agency during his time in college. The star quarterback was never shy about sharing his feelings toward the treatment of college athletes. He famously tweeted the following while with the Buckeyes:

“Why should we have to go to class if we come here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS.”

A fourth-round pick in 2016, Jones bounced around with several NFL teams until 2019. Now he is turning his attention to helping give college athletes opportunities that he never had.