Skull Session: Marvin Harrison Jr. is a Freak – As Is Sonny Styles, J.J. McCarthy Shares Michigan's Ohio State Mindset and a Clemson Fan is Afraid of Goodyear Blimps

By Chase Brown on August 14, 2023 at 5:00 am
Marvin Harrison Jr.
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

There was BOOM in Columbus on Sunday.

And then there was another one.

I, for one, would like to keep the BOOMs comin'. I'm sure you do, too.

Let's have a good Monday, shall we?

 HE'S A FREAK. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a freak. After a season in which he collected 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns and received unanimous All-American honors, Harrison returns to Ohio State with more to accomplish in 2023: Win the Biletnikoff Award and contend for a Heisman Trophy, of course – but more importantly, beat Michigan, win a Big Ten championship and a national title.

That's what Harrison said in a Q&A with Bruce Feldman of The Athletic recently. Here is a look at the question Feldman asked followed by Harrison's response:

Q: For you, “The Michigan Thing,” how much is that driving you inside? Like, “I can’t leave Ohio State having lost to them three times in a row.”

A: Yeah, it burns a lot, especially when you haven’t beaten them at all, so you don’t even know what victory tastes like. Coming into this year, that’s probably the biggest goal on my list. To beat that team up north and win a Big Ten championship.

Feldman's Q&A with Harrison had plenty more to offer. Most of the questions Feldman asked centered around his annual "Freaks List," an article where he ranks college football's most athletic players before the upcoming season. Last year, Feldman ranked Harrison second overall. He may have to bump Harrison up to No. 1 before 2023.

Here is more from their conversation:

Q: Every year I do this Freaks List. Last year, you were No. 2. What is the timing or testing result that you are most proud of? Speed? Power? Explosiveness?

A: Agility. I think for my size, I’m 6-4 and over 200 pounds, and being able to run the 5-10-5 (shuttle) in less than four seconds is probably my most impressive feature.

Q: What’s the biggest area where you think you’ve improved the most this offseason?

I really wanted to maintain — I’d kinda reached all the goals — bench press, 5-10-5, so it was just maintaining what I already have now. I did really want to keep improving on my explosiveness and my acceleration. That was something I really focused on, my acceleration.

Q: And you were already a 23 mile per hour guy on the GPS?

A: Yeah, but I got up to 23.3, which is faster than last year (23.0). Slight improvement.

Q: When you get to the NFL combine, what do you think you’ll run?

A: Four-three. Not 4.3 flat. I think I can run high 4.3s; 4.38 would be my goal. If I get a good start, I think my top-end speed will take care of itself.

I am a writer. I don't do math. I don't like numbers.

However, a website called Kyle's Converter allowed me to see how a 40-yard dash time would convert to the runner's average miles per hour. For Harrison to run a 4.38 40, he would need to maintain a speed of 18.68 mph across all 40 yards. His top speed is 23.3 mph (at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds!), which bodes well for Harrison recording that time at the 2024 NFL combine.

Oh, and let me remember to mention that he can run a shuttle in under four seconds (at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds!).

Feldman and Harrison also discussed Harrison's strict diet before 2023, how the 2022 season ended, the national championship matchup between Georgia and TCU and which NFL receivers he studies and emulates with his game. He also touched on a few other topics that I know you, dear reader, would love to know:

Q: Carnell is already generating a lot of buzz. What has impressed you with him?

A: I just see so much of myself in Carnell. Similar body types. Seeing the plays that he makes when the ball’s in the air. I’m super proud of him for all that he’s accomplished as a freshman so far because I see how much he works and his attention to detail and how he approaches coming into the facility, taking extra care of his body, the extra work he puts in. I really appreciate him.

"FUTURE... FUTURE... FUTURE... FUTURE"

Q: Who would you say is the next biggest Freak on the team?

A: J.T. (Tuimoloau) is one. (Sophomore safety) Sonny Styles is the next one. He’s 18. Very young. He’s really, really fast and probably just as strong as anyone in that weight room. He’s like 6-4, 230 and can move the way he does. He’s up there.

JT Tuimoloau better have the breakout season to end all breakout seasons in 2023. Ohio State needs him to. As for Styles – well, I've certainly heard a lot about him being a freak this offseason. Let me talk about that in the next section.

 "HE'S A UNICORN." Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn't been the only Buckeye to praise Sonny Styles in preseason camp. Far from it, actually.

Styles' name has been thrown around a bunch at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center over the past few weeks – and for a good reason. Like Harrison, "He's a freak," as Ohio State cornerback Ryan Turner said on Thursday.

Below is a collection of (almost) every quote about Styles since preseason practices started on Aug. 3. They foretell of a standout sophomore year for the Pickerington, Ohio, native, who may be the most impressive 18-year-old in Ohio, the United States or perhaps even the world!

Ryan Day: "He can do a lot of different things"

"He can move around. We can put him in different spots. And like you said, that’s a little bit harder for the offense just because a lot of teams would say, ‘Well, you know, that guy is a certain position and you know exactly where he’s going to be,’ Sonny can move around and he can do a lot of different things.”

Jim Knowles: "Plan on him being out there a lot"

"Sonny is that guy that we are continually trying to find ways to get him on the field to let him be a factor in the game. Plan on him being out there a lot."

Perry Eliano: "He's a unicorn"

“He’s a unicorn, so to speak. I love the kid. We’re just trying to create the very best opportunities for our guys to be on the field to give us the very best chance to win games. ... With Sonny, his maturity, his willingness to be coached and his unselfishness. I mean, to me, that's the biggest thing. He's been that way since day one. He's not an entitled guy, and I'm excited to see what he does this year."

Ja'Had Carter: "He has some very special talents"

"He has some very special talents. I can't wait to see Sonny play and be out there. ... Being big and being able to move like he moves. There are not a lot of guys that are that big and can move like he moves. The versatility, being able to play everywhere on the field."

Ryan Turner: "He's a freak"

 He's a freak. Sonny is – Sonny is crazy. He's crazy. He moves very well for his size. Y'all are gonna see during the season."

Denzel Burke: "He's a dog"

“He’s a dog. He’s gonna be everywhere, and I can’t wait to see what we do with him.”

As I mentioned above, that is almost every quote about Styles in preseason camp. I say almost because I am sure every Ohio State player has been asked about the 6-foot-4, 230-pound safety-cornerback-linebacker Wunderkind.

Harrison said it. Turner said it. I'll say it. Styles is a freak. Ohio State fans will be in for a treat when No. 6 takes the field for the Buckeyes this season. Sooner or later – and probably the former at this rate – he will do something that will make the crowd at Ohio Stadium or the Buckeye fans at home let out some ooooooooooos or aaaaaaaaaaaas.

 "WE ARE HUNTING THEM ALWAYS." Last week, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards appeared on the Bussin' With The Boys podcast with former Michigan offensive lineman Taylor Lewan.

The quartet of Wolverines discussed several different topics on the podcast. The most prominent one was a conversation about Michigan's plans to win a Big Ten title and make a CFP appearance for the third consecutive season – an achievement that would likely include a win over Ohio State on Nov. 25. And in that conversation, McCarthy shared the Wolverines' mindset toward The Game in 2023:

Lewan: I was in Columbus for our spring football tour, and Ryan Day was there. He was a good dude. Guys were really nice there. But there was a level of anger. They thought they had it and had it taken away from them. Is there that kind of pressure on The Game for you, or are you looking more toward national championships?

McCarthy: My opinion is that you always gotta start with step by step, brick by brick. (Ohio State is) the first – well, I would say Michigan State (on Oct. 21, Penn State (on Nov. 11), and then they're in the way to our ultimate goal. I feel like we are not there thinking that we are 2-0 against them. We are hunting them always. We are never gonna feel like we are hunted by them. It's always chasing them – no matter what it is – and doing what we've been continuing to do.

Hunter vs. Hunted.

Hm.

I think McCarthy has the roles mixed up.

Have you ever seen "Poolhall Junkies"? The movie itself is so-so. However, it's elevated whenever Academy Award winner Christopher Walken is on the screen. There is one moment in particular – a scene titled "The Lion Speech" – where Walken steals the show as he explains to his protege what it will take to defeat his rival.

You got this lion. He’s the King Of The Jungle, huge mane out to here. He’s laying under a tree, in the middle of Africa. He’s so big, it’s so hot. He doesn’t want to move. Now the little lions come, they start messing with him. Biting his tail, biting his ears. He doesn’t do anything. The lioness, she starts messing with him. Coming over, making trouble. Still nothing. Now the other animals, they notice this. They start to move in. The jackals; hyenas. They’re barking at him, laughing at him. They nip his toes, and eat the food that’s in his domain. They do this, then they get closer and closer, bolder and bolder. Till one day, that lion gets up and tears the s— out of everybody. Runs like the wind, eats everything in his path. Cause every once in a while, the lion has to show the jackals who he is. ... It's too late to be scared. It's time to kill. ... Don't beat 'em. Kick his ass.

Michigan has barked and laughed at Ohio State this offseason, as the jackals did to the lion. The Wolverines have been bolder and bolder. But, so help me, when Ryan Day and the Buckeyes face the Wolverines on Nov. 25, Ohio State will stand up, tear the s— out of everybody, run like the win and eat everything in his path, as the lions showed the jackals.

Ohio State won't just beat 'em. The Buckeyes will kick their ass.

Then the jackals and hyenas, they won't bark and laugh anymore.

 WAIT... WHAT? What I am about to share is a message board post created by a Clemson fan last week. The post made its way around Twitter and the Eleven Warriors Forum on Friday, but its content deserves a special place in the Skull Session. Why? Because college football fans are the craziest, most hilarious collection of people on Earth:

FastChad... accused Ohio State... of somehow convincing Goodyear – a Fortune 500 company (!) – to use its trademark blimp... and collect data and information on ACC and SEC football practices... like what China (allegedly) did to America with that white balloon earlier in 2023.

And this man, FastChad, tried to claim people in Ohio don't attend college?! You cannot make this stuff up. College football rocks, and its fans are lunatics.

Just to be clear, you Ohio State fans are lunatics, too. But you are my kind of lunatics. So stick around here at the elevenwarriors.com as long as you would like – and that offer stands for everyone, whether you went to college or not.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Conversations With My Wife" by Jon Bellion.

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