Former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor sued his alma mater, the NCAA and the Big Ten over denied compensation for name, image and likeness during his college career, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in an Ohio federal court.
Pryor’s lawsuit comes on the heels of former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush filing a similar suit against his former school and the NCAA, and several former Michigan players targeting the NCAA and Big Ten Network.
“For many years and continuing to the present, the Defendants have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the publicity rights and NIL of the Plaintiffs and those similarly situated and in doing so have reaped millions, and perhaps billions, of dollars from the Plaintiffs and the class,” the lawsuit said.
“Meanwhile the student athletes themselves were not only prevented from capitalizing on their publicity rights, but they were punished for doing so through the rules the NCAA forced upon them in order for them to participate.”
Pryor was one of the most famous and highly rated high school recruits when he signed with Ohio State out of Pennsylvania. His college career ended amid an NCAA investigation into rules violations by Pryor and some of his teammates for trading their equipment, memorabilia and autographs for tattoos and cash.
Instead of serving a potential five-game suspension in his senior year, Pryor entered the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft. He was selected by the Raiders, and given a five-game suspension to start his NFL career.
Ohio State denied to comment on the pending litigation.
Story link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5818571/2024/10/04/terrelle-pryor-sues-ncaa-ohio-state/
Pryor’s lawsuit comes on the heels of former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush filing a similar suit against his former school and the NCAA, and several former Michigan players targeting the NCAA and Big Ten Network.
“For many years and continuing to the present, the Defendants have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the publicity rights and NIL of the Plaintiffs and those similarly situated and in doing so have reaped millions, and perhaps billions, of dollars from the Plaintiffs and the class,” the lawsuit said.
“Meanwhile the student athletes themselves were not only prevented from capitalizing on their publicity rights, but they were punished for doing so through the rules the NCAA forced upon them in order for them to participate.”
Pryor was one of the most famous and highly rated high school recruits when he signed with Ohio State out of Pennsylvania. His college career ended amid an NCAA investigation into rules violations by Pryor and some of his teammates for trading their equipment, memorabilia and autographs for tattoos and cash.
Instead of serving a potential five-game suspension in his senior year, Pryor entered the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft. He was selected by the Raiders, and given a five-game suspension to start his NFL career.
Ohio State denied to comment on the pending litigation.
Story link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5818571/2024/10/04/terrelle-pryor-sues-ncaa-ohio-state/
