How Johnny Manziel will help Troy Smith raise money for Ohio State’s NIL programs

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State football’s last Heisman Trophy winner is bringing on one who played for the Browns as part of a name, image and likeness fundraiser this summer.

Troy Smith is holding the Buckeye Celebrity Golf Scramble at The Golf Club at Little Turtle in Westerville on Aug. 12. On Sunday he announced former Texas A&M star and Browns first-round pick Johnny Manziel as one of the participants.

Smith touted the event as “bringing Buckeyes together to support OSU NIL athletes while also bringing attention to Mental Health.”

Former NFL running back and 1998 Heisman winner Ricky Williams has also been announced as a confirmed participant. Organizers expect multiple former OSU greats to participate, with that list of names still being finalized.

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Smith, from Glenville, won the Heisman in 2006, while Manziel won in 2012. Smith has kept a lower profile than many former winners. However, he maintains an important place in Buckeye lore as the last to hoist the trophy.

He also stands as an example of how star athletes who played before NIL missed out on tremendous earnings potential due to the NCAA’s amateurism strictures.

Both the 1870 Society and THE Foundation — the two main collectives associated with OSU NIL revenue — are included on the event’s web page. Registration begins at $1,000 per person. However, additional packages are available with either Smith ($7,500) or another celebrity ($6,000) as part of a foursome.

That fee includes breakfast and lunch, dinner hors d’oeuvres and a swag bag for each player. Registration and sponsorship information are available at troystournament.com