Skull Session: Eighth-Grader Shows Why Ohio State Offered, Paris Johnson Jr.'s Always Been Helping, and Ohio Stadium's New Turf is Going In

Great news, folks – Joey Bosa's vintage flow is back.

flow joe pic.twitter.com/BUKsJPnsLJ
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) June 1, 2022

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Word of the Day: Hanker.

HE'S IN 8TH GRADE. Hand up, I rolled my eyes a little bit when I heard that Ohio State offered a scholarship to an eighth-grader last month. At the time, it felt gimmicky.

But after watching what the barely-teen did yesterday at Ohio State's first recruiting camp of the summer...

I get it.

Why did Ohio State offer @Tyler16Atkinson before hes even started high school? These clips from Ohio State camp this morning should give you an idea: pic.twitter.com/v9bBhoxssN
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 2, 2022

I'm nearly certain that kid is going to win the Bednarik and the Nagurski and he won't even have his learners permit for another year.

God help the teens that have to block him for the next four years.

“YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.” Speaking of teens doing incredible things, Paris Johnson Jr. has been one of the top offensive line prospects for a very, very long time.

Honestly, he was probably more famous in high school than most players ever get in their college careers. But I respect the hell out of what he did with that fame. Because as long as he's had any sort of platform, he's been using it to help people.

“We serve underprivileged young athletes,” Johnson begins with an undeniable passion in his voice. “Those athletes are people who want it as bad as I do, they want to reach the highest level. Some families don’t have enough to sacrifice so they can go to a camp, or get the newest cleats that fit their feet right, to get the speed training. It’s the same game that we all love. But sometimes it’s different experiences, and I don’t think that’s fair.”

Sacrifice is an important word to the ethos of the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation. While the non-profit organization works to serve those underprivileged young athletes whose parents might not have the time or resources to sacrifice for their success, the foundation also exists to serve those who make the ultimate sacrifice.

“I’ve always been passionate about veterans.” Johnson explains. “I have so much respect for veterans. It’s easy to say it, but words are just words. Our team tries to find a way to give back to those people who have arguably made the second greatest sacrifice on earth. Those people shouldn’t have to worry about the basic necessities when they come back home. They should be taken care of by the people that they protected.”

...

“You don’t have to wait until you’re in the NFL,” Johnson recalls the words of his mum, Monica. “We can start a foundation now. You don’t have to wait to give back. Maybe, that’s something that you can be a voice for and you can talk about both areas [underprivileged young athletes and disabled and homeless veterans]. It was my mum who helped take it from a conversation and turn it into a reality.”

“You don’t have to wait until you’re in the NFL.”

That's actually fantastic advice to anybody putting off anything. It's really easy to say "when my life is perfect, then I'll do the thing I feel like I'm called to do."

Hey, don't wait. Do the thing.

NEW TURF ON THE WAY. Rejoice, pink end zone paint haters – Ohio State's next edition of fake grass is currently being installed.

New turf project in #TheShoe old turf is removal underway! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/4qWQlHFneB
— Gene Smith (@OSU_AD) June 1, 2022

If there's any extra green, I would very much like those fellows to swing by my house and replace my lawn with the fake stuff.

It's barely June and I'm already ready to opt out of cutting my grass for the year.

SEASON PREVIEW, BUT HAIKUS. I'm a sucker for creative college football #content, and it really feels like the Internet has generally hit a rut in that department these days.

So when my good Internet pal Colton Denning wrote his entire 2022 Season Preview in the form of Haikus for all 131 FBS teams, it was an instant click and share.

Here's Ohio State's, but each one is glorious in its own way.