Skull Session: The Recruits Are Coming to Campus, Chicago Will Play Justin Fields If He's Ready, and Quinn Ewers Discusses Leaving Texas

Today, I wish you congratulations on seeing another day. Make the most of it, please.

Word of the Day: Assent.

IT BEGINS. Folks, the dead period is dead.

After over a year of virtual visits, text messages, Zooms, and kids signing with schools without ever stepping foot on campus, teams can FINALLY resume on-campus recruiting activities today.

And judging by what we saw literally moments after midnight in Tallahassee, we're in for an absolutely wild month.

HERE WE ARE. #FSU opens the doors to the Moore Athletic Center to recruits for the first time since March of 2020.

Mike Norvell and Kenny Dillingham bringing the juice pic.twitter.com/IbFUS0u4BH
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) June 1, 2021

For Ohio State's purposes, it sounds like there will be more kids visiting campus this month than typically visit in an entire year.

Someone get Mark Pantoni a Red Bull.

I SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING. Shortly after the Chicago Bears traded up to select Justin Fields with the No. 11 pick in the NFL Draft, I read online that the Bears were still planning to start Andy Dalton.

That seemed simultaneously totally unbelievable, yet also perfectly unsurprising.

But it turns out, the Bears are probably willing to start Fields in Week 1, provided he proves to be better than Dalton during camp in a few months.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on Get Up on Monday that Fields will have a chance to earn the starting job if he's impressive in camp:

"This offseason the Bears assessed their situation and said, 'Look, we've been an 8-8 team, we just need an upgrade at quarterback that can get us closer to 10 wins.' They felt Andy Dalton did that. They said, 'Hey, we can win 10 games with this guy, he's a slight upgrade at the position.' But then they had the chance at Justin Fields, crazy athlete, great ability. They said, 'OK, this is the long-term play.'

"Now, if Fields is just undeniable over the next three to four months in training camp, they're not going to just sit him just for fun or posterity just to play the veteran. So they're going to give him the best chance, but they're OK sitting Fields if Dalton has a good grasp on the job and they feel like they can win with him. So, they believe they're going to be better regardless. It just depends on whether Fields is ready Week 1."

As someone who watched Dalton lead my favorite NFL team for just shy of a decade, if Fields doesn't prove to be better than Dalton in these next few months, the Bears should be extremely concerned.

EXODUS EXPLAINED. Quinn Ewers is the latest of many five-star Texans that have elected to leave the Lone Star State to play college football elsewhere.

Ewers has a very simple explanation for this talent exodus: the schools in Texas are simply not very good at football.

Ewers: “Probably because a Texas team hasn't been in the running for a national championship in a little while. And I don't know about other guys, but like me I just, I just want to compete at the highest, highest level. Obviously, one day they will get back there and it'll be great. But right now, it's just, I’m just tired seeing that happen. Obviously, Texas A&M was really close last year.”

You mean to tell me a generational talent would like to play for one of the top programs in the country instead of roll the dice with a rebuilding program that just fired its coach?

I, for one, am stunned by this news.

THEY'RE BACK. Carmen's Crew is getting some more reinforcements with Jeff Gibbs and Lenzelle Smith Jr. announcing they'll be returning to the roster this season.

Big Gibbs back for another crack at it... @CarmensCrew @thetournament pic.twitter.com/ngZgKlZaoL
— Jared Sullinger Sr. (@Jared_Sully0) May 31, 2021

Zelle running it back @CarmensCrew @thetournament pic.twitter.com/iN4OOXoS1z
— Jared Sullinger Sr. (@Jared_Sully0) June 1, 2021

So far, Carmen's Crew's roster consists of William Buford, David Lighty, Jon Diebler, Evan Ravenel, Shannon Scott, Kaleb Wesson, Keyshawn Woods, Lenzelle Smith Jr., and Jeff Gibbs.

That's a solid squad, I can't lie, but I don't think I'll be fully happy until I see Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft or Evan Turner put on a jersey this year. Let's make it happen.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Party Hard" by Andrew W.K.