Skull Session: Ohio State's Still Pursuing Players to Play This Season, Austin Mack Gives His Top-Four Plays, and Buckeyes a Lock for a Top Safety

You've made it to Hump Day. You deserve Arby's.

Word of the Day: Pragmatic.

BEST AVAILABLE. In an extremely unorthodox turn of events, we're approaching the middle of May and there are two players who could contribute immediately next season that we don't even know if they will actually be playing at Ohio State.

One of those is a high school teen who's the top (and pretty much only) uncommitted player in the 2021 class, the other is Tennessee transfer linebacker Henry To’o To’o, who is the top uncommitted transfer.

3. LB Henry To’o To’o, Tennessee → ?

Here’s the most coveted undecided transfer on the market right now. To’o To’o came to Tennessee with massive expectations as a top-50 recruit and played up to them, starting 22 of his first 23 games. He followed up earning freshman All-America honors in 2019 with a team-high 76 stops and 10 TFLs as a sophomore playing weakside linebacker. He checks all the boxes in terms of work ethic, leadership, football IQ, physical play and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound defender went into the portal after the Vols’ coaching change but has stayed quiet about his intentions. Ohio State is rumored to be a frontrunner, which makes given the Buckeyes’ need after their top four linebackers all moved on, with Washington, Alabama and others still battling to get the instant-impact addition on their campus.

I've been getting used to this new neat and tidy world where Ohio State's recruiting class was basically locked up before Christmas. This is... new.

But hey, I guess you've gotta do what you've gotta do.

MACK FLASHBACK. Austin Mack played for the Buckeyes for a long time across three different starting quarterbacks and two head coaches. And he put together quite a highlight tape.

Here's his top four – one of which I'm sure you know.

.@Austin__Mack11's 4 favorite plays?@OhioStateFB fans, likely, know No. 1, but the whole list is remarkable. pic.twitter.com/iHujsrxIf0
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) May 4, 2021

The play that just missed the cut: pic.twitter.com/yVDxl67AGc
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) May 4, 2021

Three years later and I'm still not sure how he held onto that ball from Haskins, but I'm told a magician never reveals his secrets.

#BOOM LOADING? My favorite recruiting battles are the ones that everyone in the world knows Ohio State is going to win before a commitment even happens. And that appears to be the case with top-five safety Xavier Nwankpa.

Ohio State is way out in front and I’m not sure the Buckeyes can be caught in Xavier Nwankpa’s recruitment. He has a great relationship with the coaching staff, he’s going to have an excellent visit to Columbus in June and even if he still takes his round of official visits, Ohio State is looming so large in his recruitment. Anything can happen but I think the Buckeyes have a great shot at landing him and he could commit after his early June visit.

Again, it's wild to me that Ohio State is recruiting players to play for their football team in *checks calendar* like three months while simultaneously recruiting teens to play for their football team in over two years.

But you know what? I'll be waiting with that red banner ready for all of them whenever they decide to make it official. Class of 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2028 – I do not care.

COACHING NEVER STOPS. Larry Johnson doesn't stop being his players' coach when they move on to the next level any more than a parent stops being a parent when their child moves out of the house.

Jonathon Cooper is a pro now, but he's back working with the GOAT in Columbus.

Back in the lab with former Rushmen & @Broncos 2021 NFL Draft Pick, @JonathanCooper7

Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose.#MotivationalTuesday #R2X pic.twitter.com/bp5YkwY8QK
— Larry A. Johnson (@R2X_Rushmen1) May 4, 2021

To be fair, I'm convinced Larry Johnson is the best defensive line coach at any level of football, so it's not like there's anywhere else you would possibly go to get better. Coop's a smart man.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Homecoming" by Kanye West.