Bo Jackson had a great freshman season for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
He was frequently featured, and everyone got to learn that his real name is Lamar Jackson, and that he's not related either to NFL/MLB legend Bo Jackson or to NFL superstar Lamar Jackson.
This is just Bo Jackson, the Ohio State true freshman running back.
And after a great year, there are rumors that he's asking for a serious bag.
In fact, the dollars suggested would be more than former Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson is earning with the Patriots in the NFL. Henderson's rookie deal as a second-round pick was for four years and more than $11 million total.
Here's one trending rumor:
Ohio State Updates:
— Ohio State Football Recruiting (@OhioStateFBChat) January 8, 2026
Bo Jackson from what I have been told is asking for more NIL $ than what Trey Henderson is making in the NFL in his 1st year with the Patriots and likely more than what Judkins + Trey made last season with Ohio State combined.
Source: https://t.co/phDfuQOzhm
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The NIL marketplace is a fuzzy one. It's hard to know what intel is reliable or not.
And so this isn't to say that Jackson is being greedy, or that he has plans to transfer away, or anything like that.
It just captures the moment that college football is in. Jackson, a Cleveland native, heads down to Columbus to star for the Buckeyes.
And then one season in, there's the expectation that a new contract can be negotiated, and it's pretty much free agency all the time all throughout college football.
It's a tough place for the sport to find itself. And if the Buckeyes want to keep Jackson, they'll have to navigate whatever the reality here actually is.
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