Skull Session: Todd McShay Says Zach Wilson is “Significantly Better” Than Justin Fields, Justin Hilliard Turns Heads, and Ohio State's Social Media Reach Will Be Huge in Recruiting

Nothing about that was pretty, but a win is a win is a win ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We win; we sing. Those are the rules. On to the next one!#Team122 #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/060psrO5rL
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) January 28, 2021

Word of the Day: Polity.

ZACH WILSON > JUSTIN FIELDS? I respect Todd McShay. The dude's tasked with being an elite prognosticator of every player in every draft class while the Internet has an eternal memory wants nothing more than to remind you that you were very wrong five years ago.

It's a tough gig! But unfortunately for him, blatantly incorrect #takes like this ain't going to make things any easier down the line.

“We’ve seen better competition from Fields in terms of what he’s gone up against the last two years, but I think Wilson is a better player," McShay said. The reason I say that is that I think he has better instincts, I think he processes quicker, and I think he extends plays just as well if not better than Justin Fields. Now, Fields is big and strong and he can make all the throws, and when he can see his receiver open and he has turned to him, he’s very accurate. But the anticipation throws and making things happen outside the pocket, I think Zach Wilson excels in those areas. That’s why I would take Wilson over Fields. The more I study, even though the competition isn’t great — as I mentioned, BYU did not play a great schedule this year — but he’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten stronger, he stayed healthy this year and I think Zach Wilson is significantly better. I think there’s a drop-off after Lawrence, then I think it’s Wilson, then I think it’s Fields and Lance and Mac Jones is the next three quarterbacks.”

See you in five years, Todd! I won't forget.

POST IT, AND THEY WILL COME. Social media's been big in recruiting as long as teens have been online, but with the upcoming name, image and likeness rule changes, let's just say things are about to get a hell of a lot more serious. And the Buckeyes are already all over it.

Scatter chart showing 25 college football teams generating most interactions on their Instagram accounts in 2020. Plotted on average posts per day and total interactions generated. pic.twitter.com/BDknlSChwl
— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) January 27, 2021

I'm not saying this can, should, or ever will be the primary reason for a kid to choose a school, but with players able to monetize their personal brand and make money off of their image and likeness, it sure doesn't hurt to be able to show them that chart.

All else equal, what's the better choice – the school that can market you to 20 million people or the school that tops out at 4 million?

Like it or not, this is the game now. And Ohio State's ready to play.

IT TOOK SIX YEARS, BUT. It sure looks like Justin Hilliard is about to have himself an NFL career. He absolutely balled out in Ohio State's last three games, and now he's turning heads down in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard has looked real good. Tough, physical, terrific against the run and battling in coverage. #SeniorBowl
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) January 27, 2021

Browning was the wrong OSU LB for Mason to draw in 1v1s pic.twitter.com/135Aiw72IB
— Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) January 27, 2021

(I know the Tweet says Browning, but that's Hilliard – he was wrong)

I'm not sure there's anyone in the country who deserves it more. Most college football comeback stories don't take six years and a global pandemic to tell, but I'm pretty stoked his looks like it's getting that storybook ending.

J's IN JAPAN. The saddest thing about former Ohio State players going to hoop overseas is we never actually get to see them play. Like, how many years of French and Italian grittiness were we cheated of seeing from Aaron Craft's playing career?

Thankfully, though, social media has gotten a bit better at giving us some snippets, like this brief clip of Deshaun Thomas looking damn-near unstoppable in Japan.

Deshaun Thomas @Deshaunthomas_0 handing out buckets in Japan this year @ALVARK_TOKYO. Such a tough cover as a stretch 4 with his ability to shoot it and put it on the floor pic.twitter.com/lwJSKJzaXK
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) January 26, 2021

I spent three years watching him do those same exact things to college students in the United States. He hasn't changed one bit!

SONG OF THE DAY. "Für Elise" by Beethoven.