The Drought is Over
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since 2014.
My goal for this Skull Session is to not mix up a 6'8" 320 lbs man from Colorado with a 6'0" 200 lbs man from Ohio. It's a bold strategy, but I think I can pull it off.
(P.S. Justified's final season begins tonight at 10 p.m. I am so jacked up for Boyd Crowder to cover himself in opiate glory for a final time.)
DOLODALE INSPIRES KID TO RETURN TO SCHOOL. Nobody reading this needs a history lesson on Noah Spence. After being dismissed for ecstasy use, however, many assumed the talented defensive end would go pro. He was, after all, a borderline first round pick before this season began.
But, much like Cardale Jones before him, Spence feels a year in a more structured environment is the better long-term investment for his career.
From Thayer Evans and Pete Thamel of SI.com:
The junior defensive end’s transfer comes less than two months after he wasdeclared permanently ineligible by the Big Ten after a second failed drug test. Spence explored entering the NFL draft, where he’d once been projected as a top prospect. But Greg Spence said the feedback he received showed that he’d have been drafted between the third round and the fifth round.
“Everyone pretty much agreed that the talent is there,” Greg Spence said. “Another year of growth and maturity will only help him in terms of having a sustained career at the next level.”
[...]
When asked if his son is attending drug rehab, Greg Spence said: “He continues to be open and receptive to both professional and non-professional guidance in that area of concern.”
From Columbus, Ohio to... uh... *hits a few keys* ... Richmond, Kentucky! The Colonels, baby!
I will say this about Eastern Kentucky: It did produce one of Marion county's greatest athletes in my former gym teacher at River Valley High School, NFLer John Klingel.
And perhaps the drop in available extracurriculars and a new social circle will help Spence take that final step in his recovery. He has the talent, and I wish him the best, because his career is at a crossroads.
OSU COMMITS ON THE RISE. February's National Signing Day is the next big date on the evolving 24/7/365 Ohio State football calendar. And you know what? This Urban Meyer guy has quite the scope on talent.
From Barton Simmons of 247sports.com (via @jbook37), on Ohio State's rising 2015 stars:
Carlton Davis is the newest addition to the Top247 from the Ohio State commit list and though he's ranked lower than Ward, [Joshua] Norwood and Eric Glover-Williams, he is probably the best candidate to see the field early in his career. Davis' size and ability to play with physicality at the corner position should send him to Columbus ready to compete for the field.
***Joe Burrow has added his fourth star and enters the Top247 after a fantastic senior season was supported by a really strong week of practice at the Semper Fi Bowl.
***Dre'Mont Jones continued his rise in the rankings up to No. 68 overall after an extremely strong effort at the Army Bowl.
24/7 released its final rankings for the 2015 class. That list can be viewed over here, but here are Ohio State's top three prospects according to the recruiting service:
| OVERALL | NAME | POSITION | STARS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | JUSTIN HILLIARD | LB | FIVE |
| 61 | JEROME BAKER | LB/ATH | FOUR |
| 68 | DRE'MONT JONES | SDE | FOUR |
24/7 ranks Ohio State's class as the nation's seventh best. (For comparison's sake, Michigan's clocks-in at No. 93.)
Urban Meyer said before the season the #Dream14 was his best recruiting class yet at Ohio State. I think 2015 will be better.
My favorite commit? Canton's Eric Glover-Williams.
URBAN WANTS ATHLETES. Remember when Ohio State wore Alabama out and national pundits thought Oregon was going to out-athlete Ohio State anyway? Those were good times in shitty thinking.
But back to reality:
Another great message to students, parents and coaches: pic.twitter.com/eBym9wr6BA
— OIAAA (@ohioiaaa) January 19, 2015
Counterpoint to students, parents, and coaches: I played multiple sports in high school and was not recruited by Urban Meyer.
BUCKS GET TATTED. I know Ohio State student-athletes covering themselves in permanent ink is a touchy subject in these halls, but I think good tattoos look cool and are interesting.
Plus, I assume these tattoos are all above board since Ohio State's compliance monitors things like this now, and none of these guys are stupid enough to flaunt "illegal" tats like this:
Tracy Sprinkle should've gotten Warren G. Harding wearing the bandanna.
The man who split shifts with Curtis Grant gets something abstractly relating to TIME. Makes you think, Raekwon.
You can never have too many Jesus pieces, I suppose.
I could not pull something like this off.
That's the first "Block O" tattoo I've seen that doesn't look like it was drawn with a dull crayon. Well struck, Tattoo Cartel.
I hate Michigan, but I can respect any man repping his city.
DURON CARTER, TWITTER LEGEND, ABOUT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. Duron Carter, author of the greatest tweet in Ohio State football history, is about to be a millionaire, y'all:
Duron Carter is probably done taking visits. His agent is talking with the Vikings, Colts and Browns, he said.
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) January 19, 2015
I forgot to mention my fourth favorite Buckeye yesterday: Duron Carter, trailblazer and Buckeye legend. I look forward to watching Duron Carter look disinterested in going across the middle (and rightfully so) during the third quarter of a blowout Week 17 loss in which a third-string Johnny Manziel is floating ducks.
Pay the man his money, Jimmy Haslam; Duron Carter is the mentor Josh Gordon needs!!!!
THOSE WMDs. Urban Meyer made Oregon quit... I take it all back, FSU is actually good now... Video: ESPN profiles the evolution of the WR glove... #KobeSystem...O.K., Canada, I see you with that silky passport... What happened to the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" dude?
