The defensive back then made a public plea for student-athletes to get paid.
“What American industries rely on free Black labor for the lucrative benefit of White men?” Williamson tweeted. “Why don’t you leave? Quit? Most of us have only been athletes our entire lives. This is how we try to feed our families and children. It’s either play their game or have 0 chance at the lottery.”
After graduating in December 2020, Williamson returned for one final season this past fall with the Buckeyes. He finished the season with 18 solo tackles, a forced fumble and three pass deflections. After starting every game his junior season, Williamson took a reduced role in 2021. His father claimed the playing time had nothing to do with the tweets.
“Coaches are paid millions to control every aspect of each player they sign on scholarship,” Marlon tweeted. “As a football player, you might get concussed or develop CTE, suffer paralysis or some other traumatic injuries. What do these players get in return? An NIL deal, VIP at the club … etc.?”
The athlete has been projected to go late or undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, according to the Buckeyes Wire.
