Ohio State Wide Receiver Commit Jamier Brown Part Of Lawsuit Aiming To Allow Ohio High School Athletes To Profit From NIL

Ohio State wide receiver commit Jamier Brown is part of a lawsuit attempting to allow high school players in the state of Ohio to profit off of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

The complaint, filed in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, was obtained by Pete Thamel of ESPN. He reported that it is Brown’s mother, Jasmine, listed as the plaintiff in the case while the Ohio High School Athletic Association is the defendant.

Currently, the OHSAA doesn’t allow high school athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. The lawsuit aims to allow Jamier Brown to profit from NIL when he is still in high school. The complaint claims that Brown has earning power of more than $100,000.

“OHSAA’s blanket ban not only singles out Ohio’s high school student athletes for unequal treatment, but it also unlawfully suppresses their economic liberties, freedom of expression, and restrains competition in the NIL marketplace,” the complaint states.

NIL is allowed for high school athletes in many states, and Brown told ESPN that he just wants similar opportunities that players across the country have. The lawsuit states that Ohio is one of just six states that doesn’t allow high school athletes to profit off their NIL.

“What pushed me was knowing that allowing NIL for high school athletes in Ohio could be a game changer for a lot of kids like me,” Brown told ESPN. “My family is getting by, but being able to use NIL would take some weight off my mom and me by helping cover things like tutoring, training and travel, which help me grow as both a student and a football player.”

Brown plays at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, and said that he takes pride in being from the Buckeye State, which he said is part of the motivation to file this suit.

“It’s about creating fairness and giving us the chance to use our name, image and likeness in positive ways while staying focused on school,” Brown told ESPN. “If this helps make things a little easier for the next group coming up, then it’s worth it.

“Being able to compete where you’re from matters. Ohio is home, and I take pride in that, so my focus is staying here and doing my part to help make things better.”

Brown has been committed to Ohio State since Nov. 23, 2024, and is ranked No. 6 in the country in the 2027 class, No. 1 at wide receiver and the top player in the state of Ohio.