DAYTON - Two-way star Chris Gamble knows one of the most dangerous things to avoid as Ohio State sets about defending its national football championship.

He and the rest of the Buckeyes have been warned to stay away from agents.

''The agents have already called me on the phone, and I know they will be around all over this coming season,'' Gamble said. ''Yeah, I'm worried about it. I just plan to stay away from them.''

That's what coach Jim Tressel, former Buckeyes and the NCAA have advised them to do.

The school had its annual football agent education session last week, warning players that some will go to great lengths - and jeopardize the players' eligibility - to get a client.

''The industry is more desperate than ever,'' said Joe Nahra, an attorney with the NFL Players Association. ''Agents will go to any lengths to get players. The vast majority of agent misconduct involves the recruiting of college football players.''

Players aren't permitted to have written or oral agreements with agents, and their families are prohibited from accepting benefits from them. Violations could result in a player losing his college eligibility.

Two Ohio State players entered in the NFL draft this weekend told the Dayton Daily News that agents offered them money during the championship season.

''I've been asked what I needed after the game,'' safety Donnie Nickey told the newspaper, for a story published Sunday. ''They said whatever I needed, they'd bring it to the game. I said, 'No thanks.' ''It's a dirty business. It's dirty, it's slimy, a lot of lying.''

Receiver Chris Vance said he was offered money by agents last season, and was approached during his junior year as well.

''I found it hard to sleep with the phone ringing all the time, day and night,'' Vance said. ''It was frustrating.''

Tressel wasn't surprised that his players were approached.

''I guess it's like in any business. Our guys have to know there are rules in our world,'' Tressel said. ''And I've been pleased with the way they've handled it.''

During the school's agent education session, Ohio State compliance officials talked about NCAA regulations and former players told stories about their encounters with agents.

''They will come after you freshmen and sophomores because that's what they try to do, get to the players early,'' said Steve Tovar, a former linebacker for the Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bengals. ''Don't take what they are selling.''

Investigators with the National Collegiate Athletic Association said agent misconduct complaints have more than doubled in the past five years. Problems have been reported around the country, at big schools and small ones alike.

Competition to sign players is keen because there are 1,104 agents registered with the NFL Players Association, but 57 percent of them don't have any clients.