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Austin Ward, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Braxton Miller post under scrutiny

College Football, Ohio State Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State is looking into a potential NCAA rule violation with quarterback Braxton Miller after he posted a photo of himself promoting health supplements on Instagram.

The senior quarterback deleted the post from Tuesday that featured a picture of him next to AdvoCare products and included his email as a distributor of the products, but not before it was widely seen and prompted questions about whether his amateur status might be in doubt due to his celebrity and an apparent endorsement.

"We are aware of it," an Ohio State spokesman said Wednesday. "We are looking into it."

The NCAA allows for outside employment of student-athletes, and Miller would not be in violation of any rules by selling AdvoCare products.

But players like the two-time Big Ten offensive player of the year can't use high-profile status in an effort to personally profit, which makes Miller's situation something of a gray area. The Ohio State compliance office hasn't publicly issued any sort of verdict on the situation, but Miller told The Columbus Dispatch "it's all good."

Sources familiar with compliance issues told ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg that Miller isn't likely to face any sort of punishment outside of education on the matter, and that his steps to remove the offending post and references to his name on a website selling products likely would be sufficient for a violation that would appear to be secondary in nature.

Miller missed all of last season after suffering a shoulder injury during training camp that required surgery, putting his decorated career with the Buckeyes on hold after he set numerous school records thanks to his dual-threat ability at quarterback. He's not expected to resume throwing without restrictions until this summer, when he'll be thrust into a heated three-man battle for the starting job alongside J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones.

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