Reporter names additional Buckeye players allegedly involved with “Tattoogate”

Reporter George Dohrmanna along with David Epstein of Sports Illustrated released a lengthy article which, among a lot of retelling the known facts, names additional Ohio State players who were involved with either selling or trading memorabilia while active players.

The university previously conceded that six current players committed an NCAA violation by trading memorabilia for tattoos or cash: quarterback Terrelle Pryor, wide receiver DeVier Posey, tackle Mike Adams, defensive end Solomon Thomas, running back Dan Herron and linebacker Jordan Whiting.

The SI article sites a tattoo artist who had worked for Ed Rife, the tattoo shop owner busted for trafficking in marijuana, from the fall of 2008 until last summer. The former worker wanted to remain anonymous for fears that Rife or one of his associates will seek retribution for his disclosures. For the article, the informant went by the name “Ellis”, who claims to have spent time in and around the tattoo parlor for nearly 20 months. Ellis claims that he witnessed nine other currently active players swap memorabilia and/or give autographs for tattoos or money.

Those players named in the article were linebacker Dorian Bell, defensive back C.J. Barnett, running back Bo DeLande, defensive back Zach Domicone, defensive tackle John Simon, running back Jaamal Berry, linebacker Storm Klein, linebacker Etienne Sabino and defensive end Nate Williams.

Former defensive end Rob Rose, whose collegiate career ended in 2009, told SI that he had traded memorabilia for tattoos and cash. Rose also claims that “at least 20 others” on the team had done so as well.

Several former Ohio State players were also named in the article to have traded or swapped memorabilia including Rose,Ray Small, Thaddeus Gibson, Jermil Martin, Lamaar Thomas and Doug Worthington.

Dohrmanna and Epstein also write about the allegations of weed being traded for memorabilia as well despite a letter the Department of Justice sent to Ohio State University in December 2010 that noted in part that, “There is no allegation that any of these players were involved in or had knowledge of Mr. Rife’s drug trafficking activities.”

The SI informant (Ellis) says that he witnessed four Buckeyes trade memorabilia for marijuana. He says that of the four transactions, three involved a small amount of pot while the fourth deal was a pound of the drug he said he was told.

SI did note that Rife’s lawyer denies that his client provided marijuana to any players.