Skull Session: Ohio State Football's Future is Bright, Chris Olave Has Impressed Derek Carr This Offseason and Tanner Holden is Back Home at Wright State

By Chase Brown on May 30, 2023 at 5:00 am
Carnell Tate
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

I hope everyone had a restful and safe holiday on Monday.

Let's have a good Tuesday, shall we?

 EVERYTHING IS CHROME IN THE FUTURE. Ohio State football has been the model for consistency for half a century. A perennial contender for the Rose Bowl, then the BCS National Championship and most recently the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes are in a league of their own – that is, until recently when Nick Saban became Nick Saban and Kirby Smart made Georgia a superpower.

As time continues, it would be fair to assume Ohio State will have a "down year." But what is a "down year" for the Buckeyes? Given the program's sky-high standards, some might even put 2021's 11-2 season with a Rose Bowl win or 2022's 11-2 campaign with a narrow loss to Georgia in the CFP semifinal into that category.

For the men in the scarlet and gray, success is mandatory. That's why Ryan Day and his staff have set the program up for positive results in the future. Over the past few weeks, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg scouted Ohio State and the rest of the 133 FBS schools. He then created a top 25 future power rankings for those programs, ordering them based on the success he predicts each program will have in 2023, 2024, 2025 and beyond.

Here is where Rittenberg ranked the Ohio State offense and defense:

No. 2 - Ohio State

Scouting the Buckeyes offense: Ohio State is in the midst of a historic offensive stretch under coach Ryan Day -- an important reminder for fans questioning the program's trajectory. Since Day's arrival in 2017, the Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring (43.7 points per game) and rank second behind Alabama in adjusted QBR. The team loses C.J. Stroud, its third consecutive quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft, but likely won't take a significant step backward with Kyle McCord and/or Devin Brown. McCord, ESPN's No. 31 overall recruit in 2021, is positioned to step in this fall. The Buckeyes also signed quarterback Lincoln Kienholz this year and have a commitment from Air Noland, ESPN's No. 4 overall recruit for 2024. Ohio State lost three offensive linemen to the NFL draft, including No. 6 overall pick Paris Johnson Jr. Competition at the tackle spots will continue with senior Josh Fryar, sophomore Tegra Tshabola, junior Zen Michalski and others, such as San Diego State transfer tackle Josh Simmons. The interior line has fewer questions with guards Matt Jones and Donovan Jackson both back and sophomore Carson Hinzman poised to step in for Luke Wypler at center.

Day's impact on the quarterback position is matched or even exceeded by what coach Brian Hartline is doing in the wide receiver room. Despite losing three first-round picks in the past two drafts, Ohio State remains loaded at receiver. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the overwhelming favorite to win the Biletnikoff Award and become the first non-quarterback drafted in 2024, following a 77-catch, 1,263-yard season. Harrison leads a group also featuring Emeka Ekbuga, who broke out for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and Julian Fleming, ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit in 2020. Although all three are likely gone after 2023, Ohio State is stocked with younger players such as junior Jayden Ballard and incoming freshmen Brandon Inniss, Noah Rogers and Carnell Tate. The team also has 2024 commitments from two of ESPN's top 10 receiver recruits (Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham). Ohio State needs to get the running back spot right after a turbulent 2022. Veterans Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson return, along with sophomore Dallan Hayden, who showed promise in 2022. The team added ESPN four-star recruit James Peoples.

Rittenberg also expects Ohio State to have one of the best defenses in college football for years to come. While not on the same level as the offense, the Silver Bullets are poised to remain a top-25 unit the next three seasons, provided Jim Knowles can continue to show improvement and the Buckeyes' defensive recruiting continues its recent positive trend.

No. 21 - Ohio State

Scouting the Buckeyes defense: The unit has regressed for most of coach Ryan Day's tenure, although it showed clear improvement last season, especially on third down, before breakdowns in losses to Michigan and Georgia. For Day, a coach who has taken the quarterback position to historic heights in Columbus, the primary mission remains getting the defense back on track. Coordinator Jim Knowles enters his second season and will be working with enough high-level talent to clean things up in the next three years. All three levels of defense return key contributors. The line should become a major strength again, especially if ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, both ESPN top-five recruits, consistently hit their potential. Sophomores Caden Curry and Kenyatta Jackson should provide production, especially in 2024. Hopes are high at the defensive tackle spot where veterans Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams return, as well as junior Mike Hall Jr., who logged 4.5 sacks last fall.

Linebacker projects well in the short term with seniors Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers both back in 2023. Eichenberg earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last fall after recording 120 tackles, including 12 for loss. Cody Simon is a solid third option who should lead the group in 2024, along with sophomores C.J. Hicks and Gabe Powers. The secondary faces pressure this season but also has some familiar names – senior safety Lathan Ransom and junior cornerback Denzel Burke – as well as a key new one in safety Ja'Had Carter, a transfer from Syracuse who started three seasons. Junior Jordan Hancock, sophomore Jyaire Brown and Ole Miss transfer Davison Igbinosun are in the mix at cornerback, while Sonny Styles, ESPN's No. 15 overall recruit in 2022, should be a bigger contributor soon along with Cameron Martinez. Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class was underwhelming by their standard but still includes six ESPN 300 defenders.

The second-best offense and the 21st-best defense for the future. Is that good?

With numbers like that, Ohio State has been consistent and will continue to be consistent for several seasons. That said, the Buckeyes need to capitalize with a championship. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. Likeeeeeeeee 2023?

 "HE LOVES TO WORK." On March 6, the New Orleans Saints signed former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract. That news was music to some former Buckeyes ears, namely wide receivers Michael Thomas and Chris Olave, who will benefit tremendously from Carr's performance under center.

Over the past three months, Carr has been a frequent attendee of New Orleans' practice facility in Metairie, Louisianna, as he's worked to develop chemistry with the Saints receivers. In that time, Carr has been most impressed with Olave, who will look to build upon a sensational rookie season in 2022-23 in which he led the team with 72 receptions for 1,042 yards and four touchdowns.

Carr spoke about Olave in an interview with Saints beat reporters last week:

"He's very fast. He's very sudden. I don't like to put any comparisons, me personally, because now it's like he has to be this. I know you won't do that, but I don't want to put that on him. But he's also Chris Olave. He wants to be himself. Maybe there are certain players that are similar in the route-running and the burst and all those kinds of things. The one thing I will say about him is that he loves to work. He loves to work. He keeps his head down and doesn't say much until it's time. Today, I was like, "Hey, I am coming to you on this (play). I need you to win,' He's like, 'How much time do I have,' and I said, 'I don't care just win.' ... He got up there, won, caught the ball. We're building on that. Watching him run has been a treat – he and Rashid (Shaheed) can fly. But not only can they fly, but they can also run routes and play football. It's been fun for me to watch."

While Carr is not expected to provide the same boost that many believe Aaron Rodgers will offer Garrett Wilson on the New York Jets, he is undoubtedly an upgrade over the Beige Water Pistol, Andy Dalton, and the world's most interesting man, Jameis Winston, which means he should add to Olave's value as a pass-catcher next season.

Carr will also be of value to Thomas, who hasn't been himself after he suffered a sprained ankle in Week 1 of the 2020 season. Since then, Thomas has received multiple foot surgeries and appeared in only 10 of 50 possible games for the Saints.

Still, Thomas has said several times this offseason that he has plenty left in the tank, even at 30 years old, with this video of the 6-foot-3, 212-pound receiver performing a 530-pound hex bar deadlift as one example of proof.

All things considered, it should be a fun season for Olave and Thomas in the Big Easy as the Saints look to win the NFC South, which features the rebuilding Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, as well as a Tom Brady-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 BACK HOME. Tanner Holden delivered one of Ohio State men's basketball's most memorable moments last season when he nailed a 25-foot buzzer-beater to push the Buckeyes past the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 67-66, at Value City Arena on Dec. 8.

However, Holden's last-second hail mary from behind the arc would stand as one of Holden's only noteworthy accomplishments in 2022-23, as the 6-foot-6, 200-pound forward witnessed his minutes evaporate as the year continued as Ohio State amassed its worst record since 2016-17, Thad Matta's final year as head coach of the Buckeyes. Holden finished the season with 27 appearances, averaging 3.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest for Ohio State.

On April 26, Holden entered the transfer portal. Three weeks later, he committed to Wright State, where he played his first three collegiate seasons, capped off with an average of 20.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a junior in 2021-22. This time around with the Raiders, Holden told Marcus Hartman of Dayton Daily News that he feels back where he belongs.

“I wanted to play someplace where I can have an impact and be surrounded by people who really love me and care about me — not for the player I am on the court, but because of the person I am. That’s what I have here,” he said.

...

“It was an adjustment,” Holden said [of his time at Ohio State].

Though no figures were made public, NIL money was believed to be a factor — but not a big one, according to Holden.

“That’s not who I am or what I’ve ever been about. The money isn’t anything that intrigued me in any way. It’s the cherry on the cupcake, but at the end of the day, that’s not the reason I would leave,” he said. “I felt it was the right decision for me. You live and you learn. Throughout that experience, I got to learn a lot about myself and play with great players. I just wanted to challenge myself.”

He said he has no regrets. And if the NCAA gives him the OK, the Raiders will be loaded.

“I just like to win. It doesn’t matter about stats or the points you put up. It’s all about the wins,” Holden said. “That’s the big thing everyone here is desperate for — to get back to the way the Raiders play.”

I am happy for Holden. He risked leaving what was comfortable at Wright State to come to Ohio State, a move he believed was the right call at the time. But it didn't work out, and that's fine. "You live, and you learn," he said, which is an excellent approach and mindset in any walk of life.

Best of luck to him with the Raiders.

 OLYMPIC VILLAGE. Days before the 2023 WNBA season, on May 17, the Indiana Fever released former Ohio State women's basketball star Taylor Mikesell, the franchise's No. 13 overall selection (the first pick of the second round) one month prior on April 10.

As Mikesell waits for a phone call from a different WNBA team, the Massillon, Ohio, native remains on the basketball courts, keeping her conditioning and working on her game. Last week, the sharpshooter spoke with Peter Holland Jr. of The Canton Repository about her experience with the Fever and what she hopes happens next:

“It was a great experience,” Mikesell said [May 24] after a workout. “Just being able to see the pace of the game and all the talented players that they had in training camp. It was really cool to see and be able to compete against them every day and just take what I fell short on, work on it, and when that next opportunity comes, I’ll be ready to go.” 

...

Mikesell was not the only draftee who was waived.  Seven other 2023 draft picks also were released, mainly due to the limited roster space in the WNBA. While she awaits another opportunity, she sees a positive direction in the WNBA, which plans to expand, according to multiple reports.

“It’s incredibly hard to make a WNBA roster,” Mikesell said. “It’s easily the hardest professional league to join and be successful, but it’s also what makes it elite. They are doing a great job already working toward expansions.”

Hopefully, Mikesell will receive her next opportunity sooner rather than later. As for those wondering why the Fever – the WNBA's worst team last season with a 5-31 record – would move on from Mikesell, I'm not sure anyone outside Indiana's front office has the answers.

Still, Mikesell believes the 12 women who currently play for the Fever, even those who have struggled to start the season, deserve their roster spots and won't let anyone diminish their accomplishment of competing in the WNBA.

A great player and an even greater person, a classy move like this is all the more reason Mikesell's time will come – eventually.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "My Hero" by Foo Fighters.

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