Welcome to the Skull Session. We have lots to discuss.
Before we dive into it, please watch this beautiful video of Julian Fleming's touchdown from Saturday.
we seem to always find @julian_040 in the endzone pic.twitter.com/qS0pd5EPgP
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 25, 2022
Let's have a good Wednesday, shall we?
WORTH IT. The ESPN College Football Awards is a prestigious event where honors and accolades like the Chuck Bednarik, Biletnikoff, Lou Groza, Davey O'Brien and Maxwell Awards are presented to some of the most talented players in the sport.
In 2019, Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins, Chase Young and Jeff Okudah were invited to attend the awards show, as was head coach Ryan Day. The first four names showed up, but the Ohio State head coach was a no-show.
During Tuesday's press conference at the Woody, Day revealed why he wasn't in Bristol, Connecticut, for the event a few years back. The story involved Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, who coached for the Buckeyes in 2019. They apparently needed to visit some generational high school quarterback recruit in California.
Ryan Day has a great relationship with Penn State OC Mike Yurcich, who coached at Ohio State in 2019.
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) October 25, 2022
That year, Day and Yurcich traveled to California for a visit with C.J. Stroud on the same day as an ESPN CFB award show.
Day was fined for missing the event.
He didn't care. pic.twitter.com/YgMbVkIVpk
While Day did not clarify the nature of his fine, he likely received the charge for not upholding media obligations as part of his contract with the university. However, knowing how Stroud's career with the Buckeyes has turned out, I think Day would make the same decision if he had another chance. Wouldn't you?
A WINNING CULTURE. Another moment during Day's press conference that's worthy of attention is what he said about the Ohio State receiver room and its culture. It's one of accountability, discipline and maturity – an environment where boys turn into men.
"They don't look like they're 18, 19, 20. They don't talk like it. They don't act like it. They don't speak like it. But they are."
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 25, 2022
@ryandaytime, on No. 2 @OhioStateFB's talented WR room pic.twitter.com/cwfQ9FvwWJ
What started with Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon continued to Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Now that torch has passed on to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming.
Day said each of those players "cut their teeth" on special teams in the early years of their Buckeye careers. After some time, they received their shot at a featured role in the Ohio State offense. None of them disappointed or fell short, primarily due to the culture set in motion in the first seasons of Day's tenure as head coach.
What would set the Ohio State receiver room apart without that kind of environment in the Woody on weekdays and in the Horseshoe on Saturdays? We've seen how quickly talent can crumble without the correct foundation – *coughs* Texas A&M *coughs* – so having accountability, discipline and maturity is essential.
In the last few years, the Buckeyes have had the talent and the culture at wideout. That's why Ohio State has been so successful at recruiting and developing players before sending them to make millions in the NFL, and it's why they'll continue that process in the future.
MOUNTAIN LION HUNTER. Chris Olave tore up any opponent he faced in college, but he seemed to have a personal vendetta against Penn State. Whenever the Buckeyes played the Nittany Lions, Olave found his way to the end zone – a place he visited 35 times in his Ohio State career.
Chris Olave loved facing just about every opponent, but he really facing Penn State. #TouchdownTuesday x @chrisolave_ pic.twitter.com/vWL4KQjvjg
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) October 25, 2022
My first thought after watching that video: I miss Olave. He is one of my all-time favorite Buckeyes. He was so dang smooth. The speed combined with his polished route running was simply unmatched.
My second after watching that video: How many nightmares did Olave cause James Franklin to have from 2019-2021?
In three games against Penn State, Olave recorded 12 receptions for 208 yards and four touchdowns. That means he reached the end zone one-third of the time Olave hauled in a pass versus the Nittany Lions. Talk about efficient.
Maybe that's why Franklin started drinking coffee in recent years. That way, he wouldn't have to dream about Olave running up the score on his defense for three straight seasons.
C'MON, MAN! If you read the title of this section like Cris Carter on Monday Night Football's studio crew from a few years back, congratulations, you earn a gold star.
The reason why this section is titled that way is that Pro Football Focus makes me incredibly frustrated. Sometimes their analytics make sense, and sometimes they don't. The same can be said about their rankings of players at different positions.
Well, I can tell you right now, this "Big Board" of players eligible for the NFL draft is one of those times where the rankings make absolutely no sense. After seeing it, I started to question what is up with the powers at be over at PFF.
NEW BIG BOARD pic.twitter.com/7W9N0IHnDK
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 25, 2022
Yes, you read that correctly. You don't need glasses or a new prescription if you already wear them. PFF has Kentucky quarterback Will Levis ranked higher than Stroud on its Big Board, and I'm still waiting for an explanation. Also, if Levis is No. 3, shouldn't Spencer Rattler be No. 4?
Levis is a 6-foot-3, 232-pound quarterback for the Wildcats. He has 1,635 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions this season and has led Kentucky to a 5-2 record. At the same time, Stroud has 2,023 yards, 28 touchdowns and four interceptions in as many games. Stroud trumps Levis in all categories.
PFF can't make the excuse for Levis' size as a factor, either. Stroud stands at 6-foot-3, 218 pounds for Ohio State. Despite the similar size, Stroud also outshines Levis in throwing power and accuracy, and I don't think that competition is necessarily close.
So, I don't know, man. PFF is the best and the worst when it comes to things like this. Their formulas for determining a player's skill are amazing but confounding all the same time. I'm not sure I can wrap my head around this one.
It's alright, though, it will all sort itself out come April 2023.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Old Ties and Companions" by Watchhouse.
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