Skull Session: Ryan Walters Has Respect For Ryan Day and Ohio State, AP Names Marvin Harrison Jr. Best Player in Big Ten After Six Weeks and Five Buckeyes Appear on PFF's All-American Teams

By Chase Brown on October 13, 2023 at 5:00 am
Kyle McCord / Marvin Harrison Jr.
Kyle Robertson / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

One more sleep.

Let's have a good Friday, shall we?

 "A NATIONAL BRAND FOR A REASON." Purdue head coach Ryan Walters met with reporters earlier this week to preview the Boilermakers' matchup with the Buckeyes. The former Missouri and Illinois defensive coordinator was asked several questions about Ohio State in his press conference. Here is a video and a transcription of Walters' quotes:

On how Purdue has prepared to face Ohio State

“You prepare like you do every week. The beauty of the way we prepare (is that) you prep and go to work and film study and everything the same every week. Whether you are playing for the Super Bowl or against West Lafayette. That way, you aren’t cutting corners or making it more than what it is. You are diving into the details of your assignment, the scheme, the technique and, ultimately, trying to put yourself in a position to make plays to go win the game.”

On Purdue using the school's 2018 Ohio State win as motivation

“We will have a team meeting (on Tuesday). I have some creative ways to give the history of this game and what it meant the last time (the Buckeyes) were here. They’ll definitely be aware.”

On the opportunity for Purdue to face a top opponent in Ohio State

“Ohio State is a national brand for a reason. I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and what he has done in his career. But you go play to win the game. That is the purpose of competition. We are excited to go play and compete. It’s been fun already prepping and game planning against guys that you respect in this profession and against players you have respect for that play the game.”

On Ohio State's offense, how Purdue has prepared to face it

“It’s funny. This is the first time I have played against them. We’ve studied what they’ve done traditionally in the past. I know they have new faces from a year ago, but that’s the thing about Ohio State: They (reload) from a roster standpoint. They have a talented offensive line, talented receivers – every year they sign three of four five-star guys – talented running backs, they rotate three in (at running back), and they don’t miss a beat. Whoever is out there, they are there for a reason, and they are talented as all get out. As a staff, they do a good job of making it not overly complicated for those guys so they can play fast and use their God-given ability. They find creative ways to get guys in space and get guys touches. It will be a good challenge, and I am looking forward to it.”

On if he sees “chinks in Ohio State’s armor”

”They’re undefeated right now, you know? They had the tight one against Notre Dame where they, to their credit, Notre Dame had every chance to win that game in the end, and Ohio State kept fighting. They weren’t playing the type of game they’re accustomed to, but that speaks to their confidence and will to win. Chinks in Ohio State's armor? No, not really. You have to execute. You have to make plays. You can’t pay attention to the logo. You can’t let the brand or the history affect how aggressive you play. If you make it about us, how we execute, how we play the game, and how aggressive our mentality and mindset are, then you play and compete. You let the game play out and try to win it. You can’t walk into it and give them an edge because they have a Buckeye leaf on their helmet. That’s why I love competition. That’s why I love football. It’s 11 on 11. The ball is snapped, the whistle is blown, but everything that happens in between then is in your control.” 

I admire Walters' comments about Purdue's matchup with Ohio State.

The 37-year-old sounds like someone ready to push all his chips in.

Unlike some of Ohio State's earlier opponents in 2023... *coughs* Indiana and Youngstown State *coughs*... whose mission was "not to lose" rather than win, the head coach's comments indicate Purdue will let it loose on both sides of the ball on Saturday. And more power to 'em. Hudson Card is talented, Dillon Thieneman is a dude and Ross-Ade Stadium seemingly has magical powers that make Ohio State look like Ohio Wesleyan. That's more than enough reason for the Boilermakers to be aggressive against the Buckeyes.

Still, as Ryan Day and Jim Knowles have explained with Ohio State's defense this season, more aggression means more vulnerability.

Should Walters and Co. choose to let it loose, the Boilermakers better be ready to back it up with their performance on the field. Otherwise, Kyle McCord, TreVeyon Henderson, Chip Trayanum, Marvin Harrison Jr., et al., and JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Tommy Eichenberg, Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom, et al., will make Purdue pay. And, boy, would Ohio State make Purdue pay.

 HE IS MARVELOUS. The Associated Press midseason report for the Big Ten featured top honors for Marvin Harrison Jr., as the Ohio State wide receiver was named the conference's top offensive player after six weeks of competition.

In addition to Harrison, these Big Ten coaches, players and teams also received recognition from the AP:

  • TOP COACH: Mike Locksley, Maryland HC
  • TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Cooper DeJean, Iowa CB
  • TOP FRESHMAN: Darius Taylor, Minnesota RB
  • TOP FIRST-YEAR TRANSFER: Nathan Carter, Michigan State RB
  • MOST SURPRISING TEAM: Rutgers
  • MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM: Illinois
  • MOST SURPRISING PLAYER: Roman Wilson, Michigan WR
  • HOTTEST SEAT: Tom Allen, Indiana HC
  • BIGGEST INJURY: Cade McNamara, Iowa QB

Harrison has collected 25 receptions for 499 yards and four touchdowns across five appearances in 2023. He was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Ohio State's win over Maryland, which included eight catches for 163 yards and one score. Oh, and for the record, those efforts came after Harrison sprained his ankle two weeks earlier, in the second half of the Buckeyes' matchup with Notre Dame. Despite the ailment, Harrison made that stat line look effortless.

Regarded as college football's best wide receiver, Harrison has looked the part after the first six weeks of the year, so I am pleased to see the Associated Press acknowledge him as such with their award.

An AP midseason Big Ten top offensive player accolade will not be placed in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. However, the honor can serve as an additional note on Harrison's résumé that The Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation can consider for the 2023 Biletnikoff Award – you know, the award that Harrison should have won last year but didn't? Yeah, that one.

 PFF MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICANS. While the AP named Harrison the Big Ten's top offensive player after six weeks, the star receiver did not appear on Pro Football Focus' midseason All-American teams. However, some of Harrison's teammates received the honor, including Denzel Burke, Cade Stover, Josh Proctor and – ready to be surprised? – Matt Jones and Josh Fryar.

First Team: Denzel Burke

According to PFF, Burke has forced eight incompletions in 2023, tied for the most among Power Five cornerbacks. As a primary defender, Burke has surrendered only 11 catches on 26 targets, resulting in a 40.4 passer rating for quarterbacks who have thrown his direction.

Third Team: Matt Jones and Cade Stover 

After six weeks, Jones is PFF's No. 58-ranked guard in college football, which makes his selection as a third-team midseason All-American... questionable. Still, as one of the oldest players on Ohio State's roster, Jones offers experience and stability to the Buckeyes' interior offensive line, so maybe PFF has seen some of that play out on film.

As for Stover, the Ohio State captain has excelled in 2023. With 19 catches for 306 yards and one touchdown across five games, Farmer Gronk is on pace for one of the most productive seasons ever for an Ohio State tight end. Stover has also thrown people around as a blocker, as evidenced here:

Honorable Mention: Josh Fryar and Josh Proctor

While Jones' third-team selection is questionable, Fryar's honorable-mention selection is malpractice, as the Ohio State offensive lineman is PFF's No. 223-ranked tackle after six weeks. On the other hand, Josh Simmons is the No. 37-ranked tackle. Perhaps the writers and editors mistook the names. That's the only reasonable explanation.

Proctor has experienced a late-career resurgence in 2023, collecting 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception, three pass breakups and one defensive touchdown as a clear leader in Jim Knowles' defense. Proctor's best performance of the season came last season against Maryland, as the veteran safety earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors and was featured on the Reese's Senior Bowl Stock Report as a player NFL scouts will keep tabs on for the rest of the season.

 FOOTBALL FRIDAY NIGHT? In a recent interview with Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said the conference will air nine or more Friday games on FOX properties in 2024. The reason for that, Petitti said, is "national exposure" for the Big Ten in a non-traditional airtime for college football.

Dochterman reported that some schools, like Michigan, will not compete on Friday. At the same time, Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa have "logistical challenges that prevent them from hosting except in specific circumstances."

What's more, an Ohio State spokesperson (essentially) told Matt Brown of Extra Points and D1Ticker that the Buckeyes wouldn't be too pleased with a Friday home game on campus.

Ohio State is not the first program to speak out against Friday games (and won't be the last, I am sure). Before Indiana's win over Indiana State in Week 2, which occurred on a Friday, Hoosiers coach Tom Allen shared his disdain for Friday matchups due to their shared stage with prominent high school games nationwide.

“That’s not a decision that we make. That comes straight from the Big Ten," Allen said. "If anyone wants to complain about that, don’t talk to me. Friday night is for high school football, bottom line. I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face, until somebody tells me to shut up. Then I’ll probably say it again. Friday night football is for high school football.”

I agree with Coach Allen.

Unfortunately, the executives at FOX do not care about Tom Allen, Chase Brown or whoever else. They care about green dollars. Brace yourself, Buckeye Nation. Football Friday Night could be coming to Ohio Stadium soon.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by Beastie Boys (let's run the Beastie Boys back).

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