Skull Session: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Was Already the Best, Evan Pryor is Ready For More, and Taylor Mikesell is Returning

Today is my beautiful wife's birthday. I am happy that she exists because she is the rare trophy wife who is also the breadwinner in our family while I blog about sports online from my couch with my cats.

I bring nearly nothing to the table in this relationship, so the least I can do is wish her a happy birthday with my online words.

Word of the Day: Laud.

PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF? I vividly remember before last season started, Garrett Wilson just casually mentioned that Jaxon Smith-Njigba was "probably the best I've ever seen" at receiver – better than he and Chris Olave, who were both widely considered the two best receivers in college football.

At the time, I didn't actually think he was serious, serious. Hell, I still didn't even fully believe it when he caught 15 passes for 240 yards against Nebraska. But turns out, Wilson was 100 percent correct.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba led P5 WRs in:

1,595 receiving yards
790 yards after catch
390 yards after contactpic.twitter.com/VVNYoUgRZI
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 28, 2022

Dude spent an entire season out-performing his two teammates who are about to be first-round picks in the NFL Draft. Unfortunately for him, the rules dictate that he has to come back and play against college students for another year when he clearly could have been a first-round pick himself.

It sucks for him, but I sure ain't mad!

The two other times I can remember an Ohio State player being in this situation heading into their junior seasons were Nick Bosa and Chase Young. And both absolutely lived up to the preseason hype.

You're up, Jaxon.

MORE, PLEASE. Ohio State's been stockpiling talent at the receiver position for years now, and it seems like the Bucks are now trying that same approach at the running back position – and I'm absolutely here for it.

The fun reality is, the Buckeyes have got an entire unit full of guys who I'd gladly accept as Ohio State's starting running back, and Evan Pryor is the latest to join the club.

Yes. Right now he’s third behind TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. However, with Marcus Crowley out this spring, Pryor is certain to get more work during these 15 practices than perhaps he would otherwise. The running back position is a bit light on numbers at the moment — not much of a concern this time of the year — and could work to Pryor’s benefit as he looks for more chances to show he can be a featured back at this level.

“I feel like I’m a more physical runner now,” Pryor said. “It will be interesting to see what happens when we get the pads on.”

The truth is that Pryor is never going to be the most physically imposing back. He’s 5-foot-10 and said he’s around 202 pounds now after playing at 192 in the fall. It’s about body composition more than anything. Pryor said he simply feels stronger, that he put on the right kind of 10 pounds this offseason. He still feels like he has the burst that helped him rip off a handful of 10-plus yard runs in limited work last year. But rather than be a player who consistently bounces those runs outside, Pryor feels as though he can more comfortably and effectively run between the tackles.

Add in his ability as a receiver out of the backfield, and there’s at least a small chance that he carves out a niche role in the offense this year.

“I feel I can do the same things (as the other backs),” Pryor said. “My ability out of the backfield is a plus. I’m a running back first, I can do outside zone, things between the tackles. My pass blocking has taken a big step this offseason.”

The No. 6 running back recruit in the country just sitting at No. 3 on your depth chart – it's casual. But his time will come.

SHE'S BAAAAAAACK. Yesterday, I talked about just how loaded the Ohio State women's hoops team will be next season if Taylor Mikesell decides to run it back one more time. It looks like I spoke it into existence.

Bet on yourself, and double down. Lets run it back Buckeye Nation. One more year. pic.twitter.com/Od7jtlFlVd
— Taylor Mikesell (@TMikesell23) March 28, 2022

For those unfamiliar, Mikesell was first-team All-Big Ten, averaged nearly 20 points a game and is probably the best and most consistent three-point shooter in the country – all good things!

On the flip side, the Buckeyes will be losing former five-star prospect Katari Poole, who entered the transfer portal yesterday, but she played just the seventh-most minutes and averaged less than five points a game with the second-most turnovers. She probably wasn't going to get to play as much as she wanted, especially if Madison Greene is back and healthy.

Needless to say, this team was fun as hell this year, and it's looking like it's going to be fun as hell next year, too.

OLD FACE, NEW ROLE. It looks like former Ohio State walk-on linebacker Logan Hittle will be back with the Buckeyes in a different capacity – the director of name, image and likeness at Ohio State.

Grateful for this opportunity, and the chance to learn from our elite leadership & administration. Excited to continue to build off the foundation weve created over the last 8 months, and provide our SAs with endless education & opportunities in this space #AGTG #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/JsTpdOcBQ0
— Logan Hittle (@LoganHittle_) March 29, 2022

If you remember, this is the job posting I shared a few weeks ago that had a whole damn charcuterie board of job requirements. Based on that alone, Hittle must be one of the most well-rounded human beings on the planet, and I tip my cap.

SONG OF THE DAY. "All My Fault" by Fenix TX.