Skull Session: Bryce Young Makes Nearly Seven Figures, Jae'Sean Tate Throws Opening Pitch, and CJ Stroud a Heisman Frontrunner

I'm heartbroken to announce that I've been snubbed again.

Shop the Arbys Summer Collection now. From the drive-thru to the poolside to the runway and then back to the drive-thru. https://t.co/6GPDCvEV2y pic.twitter.com/KtsQNqYenj
— Arby's (@Arbys) July 19, 2021

One day, Arby's. One day.

Word of the Day: Penchant.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL MILLIONAIRES COMING. My most burning question when all this NIL stuff started becoming a reality was probably the same as yours: "How much could a player actually make from their name, image and likeness in college, anyway?"

The answer is apparently uh... a lot.

Nick Saban is talking at the Texas HS Coaches Association convention today. He was asked about NIL. Apparently, Bryce Young is doing quite well.

Our QB has already approached ungodly numbers, and he hasnt even played yet. If I told you what it is its almost 7-figures."
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) July 20, 2021

Bryce Young was a five-star prospect and the top quarterback in 2020 class, but he's also never played a competitive snap at the college level. So if *he* is getting nearly a cool mil in endorsement money IN THREE WEEKS, you have to think a guy like Braxton Miller or Ezekiel Elliott could have amassed like, generational wealth in four seasons in a Buckeye uniform. Braxton, in particular, got done absolutely dirty by the system.

But hey, props to Bryce Young for getting that money. If he's really nearing $1 million in NIL money in the first three weeks he's allowed to profit, there's a strong chance he'll be making more money than his position coach/offensive coordinator by even the start of the season (Bill O'Brien makes $1.1 million), and I am extremely here for that.

KING OF HOUSTON. Around this time last year, Jae'Sean Tate was shopping for some NBA team – any NBA team! – to give him a shot.

Now, he's the certified king of Houston, throwing the opening pitch at the Astros game after arguably the best, most productive all-around season from any rookie in the NBA.

And in extremely Jae'Sean Tate fashion, he put in that WORK before the big moment.

.@o_tate_ is ready to throw some tonight at the Astros game! pic.twitter.com/nDTIviNFQG
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 20, 2021

And for someone with no baseball background, this certainly could have been worse!

.@o_tate_ doesnt miss. @astros pic.twitter.com/yGSEUcwTe5
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) July 21, 2021

Better yet, this was Tate's first-ever MLB game and he got to see his new local team play the local team of his childhood with the Indians in town.

All good things, all well deserved.

STROUD FOR HEISMAN. Speaking quarterbacks who have to play a competitive snap but have all the hype in the world, CJ Stroud and Bryce Young are tied with the third-best odds to take home the Heisman Trophy at 10/1 (+1000).

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels leads all players with 5/1 odds, for some reason.

Here are your odds, according to BetOnline:

JT Daniels - Georgia - 5/1
Spencer Rattler - Oklahoma - 7/1
Bryce Young - Alabama - 10/1
CJ Stroud - Ohio State - 10/1
D.J. Uiagalelei - Clemson - 11/1
Sam Howell - UNC - 14/1
Kedon Slovis - USC - 16/1
Matt Corral - Ole Miss - 16/1
D’Eriq King - Miami - 18/1
Bijan Robinson - Texas - 20/1
Breece Hall - Iowa State - 25/1
Emory Jones - Florida - 25/1

It's worth noting that this is the first time Stroud has even been on the board, so it seems Vegas (or at least Antigua and Barbuda, since this is an offshore sportsbook) is now privy to the idea that Stroud is the most likely starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.

To be honest, though, they probably could have just put "Ohio State Starting Quarterback" on the board with 15/1 odds, and people (present company included) would have gladly taken it.

NEXT WWE SUPERSTAR. Sad news, folks – Ohio State's basketball roster continues to be poached by professional sports leagues.

Buckeye Nation, it was fun while it lasted https://t.co/CDNV4c94oJ
— Seth Towns (@219setty) July 20, 2021

(Before someone inevitably hits my inbox to call me fake news when Seth does indeed suit up for the Buckeyes this year, my lawyers have advised me to tell you that this is what we in the posting industry would call a "joke")

With all due respect to Seth, I'm not sure he would even make my top-25 of players of Ohio State athletes I'd expect to see as WWE superstars, but I absolutely respect that he's done something to gain their attention.

For the record, if he really does want to quit basketball to pursue professional wrestling, he has about 150% of my support.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Bad Habit" by Ben Platt.