Ohio State Football Alumni Launch BILT Connections to Build Business Equity Pipeline for Athletes and Agriculture

Two former Ohio State University athletes are leading a new venture that merges entrepreneurship, agricultural innovation, and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities to prepare student-athletes for life beyond sports. 

“It’s exciting to see innovation coming from so many corners of the university — from faculty research to athletics,” said Kevin Taylor, chief innovation officer at The Ohio State University. “BILT Connections is a great example of how our community can turn ideas into impact by blending scholarship, entrepreneurship and student leadership.” 

Under the BILT Connections umbrella, LegacyAcres will license university-developed research to create businesses operated by former athletes and promoted by current student-athletes in exchange for equity. The initiative centers on a farm succession planning platform created at The Ohio State University, addressing one of the most pressing issues facing agriculture today: the generational transfer of farmland. 

“We’re trying to give former players an opportunity to build something long-term — something that can live on past their playing days,” said Sam Storts, CEO of BILT Connections and treasurer of LegacyAcres. “Even the best careers are short. This is about building an entire ecosystem fed by Ohio State’s resources and powered by the Buckeye community.” 

The technology LegacyAcres will bring to market helps farmers plan for the future of their operations by simplifying the complex succession planning process. Chimdi Chekwa, former Ohio State All-American and now an agricultural analyst, described the urgency of the work. 

“The average age of a farmer in the United States is around 65,” Chekwa said. “This platform helps farmers answer the difficult questions needed to transfer their farms successfully. It reduces risk and protects the long-term viability of farming communities — something many athletes understand personally from growing up in rural areas.” 

The main concept that sets BILT Connections apart is that athletes receive equity in the businesses they promote through NIL marketing services — giving them partial ownership and a stake in long-term success. This model is designed to equip athletes with both income and entrepreneurial experience. 

Bryant Browning, former Buckeye offensive lineman and NFL veteran, shared his personal experience transitioning after athletics. 

“When you finish playing, you’re just another applicant — and often you’re told you don’t have any experience,” Browning said. “This project gives athletes something tangible to put on their resumes. They can say, ‘I helped run a business,’ or ‘I worked on a marketing campaign.’ That makes a real difference.” 

While football will serve as a primary driver for attention and marketing, the team emphasized a commitment to supporting athletes across all sports. 

“We want to broaden the impact — reaching women’s basketball, which is a major driver for NIL activities, as well as other sports where athletes might have more time to focus on gaining business experience,” Storts said. 

LegacyAcres is one of several businesses being developed under the BILT Connections umbrella. It is based on technology developed by two OSU professors, David Marrison and Attorney Robert Moore, and licensed for commercialization. Chekwa is leading operations for LegacyAcres, and BILT will continue recruiting former OSU athletes to run similar ventures. 

The initiative also emphasizes collaboration across Ohio State programs such as the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, the Fisher College of Business, and the Moritz College of Law — all of which involve undergraduate and graduate students in real-world projects, enhancing workforce development and student career preparation. 

“We will be looking to continue working with Ohio State’s Innovation and Commercialization team to license additional technologies,” Storts said. “This creates a universally beneficial ecosystem — tech invented at OSU, developed at OSU, and promoted with the power of athletics in this new era of NIL.” 

“By connecting former athletes, current students, and the university’s research strengths, we’re creating opportunities that didn’t exist before,” Chekwa said. “It’s about ownership, growth and securing the future for both individuals and industries.”