The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) could soon take a major step toward modernizing its rules on name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation for high school athletes.
The move comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, featuring Huber Heights Wayne junior Jamier Brown, a nationally ranked wide receiver and Ohio State commit in the Buckeyes’ 2027 recruiting class.
The lawsuit, filed by Brown’s mother on his behalf, challenges the OHSAA’s long-standing ban on NIL earnings for student-athletes. It claims that the association’s “blanket ban” violates economic freedoms, restricts free expression, and unfairly limits Ohio athletes’ ability to compete in an increasingly open NIL marketplace. Brown’s attorneys argue that the rule not only harms top-tier prospects but also limits opportunities for all high school athletes to benefit from their accomplishments and reputations.
Brown is among the most sought-after recruits in the country, ranked No. 6 overall and the top wide receiver in the 2027 class by 247Sports’ composite rankings. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound standout has been committed to Ohio State since November 2024. His combination of elite status and strong Ohio ties has made him a central figure in the broader debate over NIL rights for high school athletes.
According to reports, the lawsuit estimates Brown’s NIL earning potential to be more than $100,000 per year, citing potential trading card deals and endorsements. His legal team says that being allowed to profit from NIL could ease financial pressures on his family while funding essentials such as tutoring, training, and travel.
In response to the legal action, OHSAA officials confirmed they are considering an emergency referendum vote among member schools within the next month. A similar NIL measure was presented in 2022 but was defeated 538–254.
“We have been following this situation closely and have been preparing for this scenario. We were hoping this would wait for the regular referendum voting period in May, but as we’ve told our schools this fall, the vote may need to come sooner due to the lawsuit. We’re ready to move forward with our member schools on this issue.”
– OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute
The OHSAA’s updated plan is modeled in part after NIL frameworks adopted by other states. Its goal, officials say, is to give schools oversight of NIL activities while ensuring transparency and compliance. The organization has also acknowledged that the majority of states — 44 plus the District of Columbia — now allow high school athletes to profit from their NIL in some capacity. Only Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, and Wyoming continue to prohibit it.
Ohio’s status as one of the few remaining holdouts has fueled growing concern among coaches and families that top athletes may transfer to neighboring states, such as West Virginia, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania, where NIL activity is already permitted.
Brown’s lawsuit has now brought those concerns to the forefront. While OHSAA leaders had anticipated NIL discussions eventually returning, the filing has fast-tracked the issue and increased pressure on the association to modernize its policies.
If OHSAA member schools approve NIL rights through the expected referendum, it would mark a major shift in Ohio high school athletics, giving student-athletes across the state new opportunities to earn compensation, build their brands, and remain in-state to do so.
