Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott applies for epic trademarks

Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott is already preparing for his financial future, applying for five trademarks referencing his likeness.

Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott may have a bright future as an NFL running back within his grasp, but he still has one more college football season ahead of him before that dream can become a reality. In the meantime, he is taking all the measures he can to ensure that future profits generated from his likeness due not come under legal scrutiny.

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Elliott has applied for trademarks for the use of the nicknames “Zeke” and “Eze” on merchandise. While the trademarking of nicknames is pretty standard, the junior running back took things a step further with three more trademarks referring his preference to roll up the bottom of his jersey like a crop top.

The phrases he trademarked were for the use of “Hero in a half shirt” and “In crop top we trust” on apparel, and the brilliant restaurant name of “Zeke’s Crop Top Bar and Grill.”

While “Hero in a half shirt” and “In crop top we trust” may have little use past his Ohio State football career, “Zeke’s Crop Top Bar and Grill” definitely has the sound of a successful Columbus, Ohio restaurant catering to Buckeye fans.

Although Elliott is not permitted to receive money for the use of his likeness until after his college football playing days are over, it is a smart decision to take action now. After seeing Johnny Manziel entangled in a legal battle over his “Johnny Football” nickname in recent years, it has become increasingly common for college athletes to ensure legal ownership of monikers and phrases related to them.

"“Filing a trademark application is a very simple process,” Ryan Hilbert, a Jacksonville attorney who specializes in intellectual property and sports law, told the Associated Press. “People will jump in as quickly as they can to file for marks that are coined by athletes.”"

The influx of trademark applications from student-athletes in recent years brings up the never-ending question of whether or not the NCAA is being too overbearing in its regulations.

Some will suggest that schools are able to unfairly take advantage of athletes that cannot benefit from their own likeness. But when you consider that a football scholarship is worth upwards of $100,000, it is not like these kids are being robbed by the university.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, though, it is refreshing to see college athletes taking their financial future into account before they see their first paycheck in professional sports.

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