Skull Session: JT Tuimoloau Needs to Be Dominant in 2023, Ohio State Fans Can Listen to Classic Football Games This Summer and Kamryn Babb Has B1G Sportsmanship

By Chase Brown on June 21, 2023 at 5:00 am
JT Tuimoloau
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

It was Terrelle Pryor's birthday on Tuesday. He was good at football.

Let's have a good Wednesday, shall we?

 "WOW! TUIMOLOAU AGAIN!" When Ohio State arrived at Penn State on Oct. 29, 2022, defensive end JT Tuimoloau had only recorded nine tackles, 0.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the season. After the Buckeyes defeated the Nittany Lions, 44-31, in Beaver Stadium, those numbers looked a lot different.

In the "game of his life," FOX commentator Gus Johnson said that afternoon, Tuimoloau willed Ohio State to victory over Penn State by collecting six tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one pass deflection (that led to a Zach Harrison interception), two interceptions and one touchdown.

Insane.

Tuimoloau finished the season with a respectable 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pass deflections, two interceptions and one touchdown. However, it's not quite the statistics one would expect from a player capable of having one of the most dominant defensive performances in college football history – on the road against a top-10 team in the country, no less.

In 2023, I want to see more consistency from Tuimoloau as Ohio State's premier edge rusher. While I do not expect we will see the mass destruction that occurred in Happy Valley replicated each week, however incredible (and appreciated) that would be, I believe it's fair to desire better production from the five-star recruit in his third season.

One game-changing play per game. That's my expectation for Tuimoloau this fall. Whether that's a sack, tackle for loss, deflected pass, forced fumble, fumble recovery, interception or touchdown, Tuimoloau needs to be a game-wrecker for Ohio State in 2023. It's been a long time since the Buckeyes had one. Four years, in fact, since Chase Young's breakout season in 2019, when The Predator collected 46 tackles, a single-season record 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and seven forced fumbles.

 I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT. This summer, Buckeye Nation can revisit some classic Ohio State football games on 97.1 The Fan, as the radio station will broadcast past matchups that mostly feature the commentary of Paul Keels and former Ohio State All-American Jim Lachey every Saturday following the Fourth of July.

Here is a full schedule of Re-Airs on the station from July 8 to August 26, with a bit of information about each matchup (careful, there will be spoilers!):

July 8 - Ohio State at Pitt from Sept. 23, 1995

Terry Glenn overshadowed eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George with nine catches for 253 yards and four touchdowns as Ohio State defeated Pitt, 54-14, on the road. Glenn scored on pass plays of 75, 61, 36 and 12 yards from Bobby Hoying.

"He was just unstoppable today," Hoying told the Associated Press after the game.

July 15 - Ohio State at Colorado from Sept. 21, 1985

The Buckeyes traveled to Boulder, Colorado, and spanked the Buffaloes, 36-13, on their own turf. John Woolridge rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown and added eight catches for 82 yards and a score, while The Silver Bullets forced four Colorado turnovers to lead Ohio State to its 23-point win.

July 22 - Ohio State at West Virginia from Sept. 5, 1998

Known as the first college football game broadcast in high-definition, Ohio State visited Morgantown, West Virginia, and left with a 34-17 win over the Mountaineers. The Buckeyes were led by quarterback Joe Germaine (18-32, 301 yards, 2 TDs) and wide receivers David Boston (129 yards, 1 TD) and Dee Miller (110 yards, 1 TD) in the three-score victory.

Footage from this matchup was broken down in its entirety by former Eleven Warriors beat reporter Colin Hass-Hill while we were without Ohio State football in September 2020. Those were sad times, but Colin made them better with his breakdowns.

July 29 - Ohio State at NC State from Sept. 18, 2004

Ohio State's offense was piss poor, but its defense forced five turnovers, and Mike Nugent made Jim Tressel proud with a school-record five field goals as Ohio State escaped with a 22-14 win over the Wolfpack. The Buckeyes' forced turnovers included interceptions from Donte Whitner, Ashton Youboty and A.J. Hawk and forced fumbles from EJ Underwood and Marcus Green.

Aug. 5 - Ohio State vs. TCU from Sept. 15, 2018

Dwayne Haskins shined with 344 yards and two touchdowns, while J.K. Dobbins (18 carries, 121 yards) and K.J. Hill (95 yards, 1 TD) had solid performances in Ohio State's 40-28 victory over TCU. The victory was Ryan Day's third and final win as interim head coach of the Buckeyes before Urban Meyer returned from a suspension.

Aug. 12 - Ohio State at Virginia Tech from Sept. 7, 2015

After Ohio State was upset by Virginia Tech in 2014, the Buckeyes exacted revenge with a 42-24 win over the Hokies to start the 2015 season. Cardale Jones (10-19, 187 yards, 2 TDs), Ezekiel Elliott (122 yards, 1 TD) and others played well, but Braxton Miller stole the cake with a spin move that broke the internet.

Aug. 19 - Ohio State at Oklahoma from Sept. 17, 2016

Baker Baker Touchdown Maker and Oklahoma were no match for J.T. Barrett, Noah Brown and Ohio State as the Buckeyes marched into Memorial Stadium and left with a 45-24 win over the Sooners. In what would now be known as The Noah Brown Game™, the talented receiver collected five catches, 72 yards and four touchdowns in the 21-point victory.

Aug. 26 - Ohio State at Texas, Sept. 9, 2006

In a battle between the nation's top-ranked teams, future Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith and Ohio State defeated Colt McCoy and Texas, 24-7, in Austin. Smith threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns, Antonio Pittman rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown and Anthony Gonzalez had seven receptions for 142 yards and a score.

 B1G SPORTSMANSHIP. Former Ohio State wide receiver Kamryn Babb and former women's soccer forward Emaly Vatne were among 28 student-athletes to receive the 2023 Big Ten's Outstanding Sportsmanship Award on Tuesday.

Babb and Vatne were honored because of their behavior on and off the football and soccer fields, with both Buckeyes known as leaders in their respective programs, in the classroom and throughout the Ohio State community.

Babb was a Bill Willis Block O recipient and two-time captain in five years with the Buckeyes. He also graduated from Ohio State with a bachelor's degree in communication and a master's in kinesiology. Babb provided one of the most memorable moments of the 2022 football season with his touchdown catch against Indiana – his first-career reception after having five knee surgeries during his career with the Buckeyes.

Onions. Every time I watch that video.

As for Vatne, the Sterling Heights, Michigan, native was a two-time captain of the women's soccer team and has completed a bachelor's degree in exercise science. In 79 appearances for the Buckeyes, Vatne made 39 starts and collected four goals and nine assists. She also became a leader in the Human Performance Collaborative, an organization that provides instruction for student-athletes on and off their competitive field.

 WHAT'S THE BEST LOGO? Ohio State football has had four very cool logos in the last five decades, all including some variation of a scarlet block O that will forever be associated with the university. But I have one question: Which logo is your favorite?

While I am most familiar with the two recent Ohio State logos, I think the block O and buckeye leaf the Buckeyes used from 1987-91 is the coolest of the bunch. It feels like a logo you would come across in a thrift shop, purchase for a few bucks and receive plenty of compliments for wearing due to its retro look.

At any rate, each of the logos looks niceeeeeeee. Just a matter of preference for which one you think looks the best.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & The Papas.

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Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (8) celebrates with cornerback Jordan Hancock (7) after Ransom intercepted a pass in the second half at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio.
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