Welcome to the Skull Session.
Cold Talks Part 4 is here.
pt.4 pic.twitter.com/OmEY40lYUp
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 15, 2023
Let's have a good Wednesday, shall we?
SUPER FREAK. SUPER FREAK. Over the weekend, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman started his annual “Freaks Week” via a Q&A interview with Marvin Harrison Jr. In the article, Feldman said to be on the lookout for his “Top 100 Freaks List” which was set to release later in the week.
On Tuesday, Feldman confirmed Harrison is, in fact, a freak. However, he is not the freakiest player in college football. Instead, that honor belongs to South Carolina wide receiver Nyckoles Harbor. While I disagree with Feldman on that outcome, I must admit that Harbour – the son of former U.S. men's national soccer team forward Jean Harbour – is insanely fast for his 6-foot-5, 243-pound frame.
Here is what Feldman wrote about Harrison:
At 6-4, 208, the son of a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver is remarkably gifted. He has everything. He’s very strong – he bench presses 380 pounds and did 20 reps of 225 on the bench and squatted 500. He’s very explosive, having broad-jumped 10 feet 8, and he’s really sudden, having clocked a 3.94 in the shuttle and improved on his max velocity from last year, up to 23.5 MPH. Asked for what training result he’s most proud of, he says it’s his 5-10-5, given his height and weight, yet still can run a sub-4-second time.
Feldman could have also mentioned that Harrison hopes to run a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. To accomplish that feat, he would need to maintain a speed of 18.68 mph across all 40 yards. With a top speed of 23.3 mph (at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds!), Harrison should come close to that in Indianapolis.
Overall, a 380-pound max on the bench press, 20 reps at 225 pounds, a 500-pound max squat, a 10-foot-8 broad leap, a 3.94 shuttle and a sub-4.4 40-yard dash is – well, yeah. It is as impressive as can be.
Beyond Harrison, Ohio State had two more representatives on Feldman's Freaks List: Sophomore safety Sonny Styles (ranked 20th) and senior running back Chip Trayanum (ranked 37th).
Here is what Feldman wrote about Styles, who has superstar potential for the Buckeyes in only his second season:
Styles is 6-5, 228 pounds and broad-jumps 11 feet. He vertical-jumped 39 inches this offseason and squatted 600 pounds. He also ran the 40 in the high 4.4s and hit 22 MPH on the GPS. Remember his name this fall.
And on Trayanum, who will contribute in Ohio State's deep and talented running back room and has biceps that could crush a man's skull:
The versatile Buckeye made 13 tackles as a linebacker and then, when injury hit the Ohio State offense, shifted to running back and gained 83 of his 92 rushing yards in the Michigan game. The 5-11, 233-pound senior had run for 10 touchdowns in his two seasons as a power back at ASU before transferring to Columbus. Trayanum is a big, strong, explosive dude. He bench-pressed 415 and squatted 650 this offseason, but he also ran a 40 in the high 4.3s and had a max velocity of 22.2 MPH.
That's 415 pounds on the bench, 650 pounds on the squat... Goodness. If I attempted that much weight in either exercise I would simply cease to exist. I would become the human incarnation of Flat Stanley.
Former Ohio State defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who transferred to Notre Dame this offseason, also appeared on Feldman's Freaks List at No. 82 overall – ahead of JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, Kenyatta Jackson and Ohio State’s other edge rushers, who were not featured. Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, who was ranked No. 66 overall in last season's list, was not included in the top 100 this year.
THAT'S A LOTTA TALENT. Not only does Ohio State have freaks on its 2023 roster, but the Buckeyes also have incredible top-end talent on both sides of the ball. That's what the Worldwide Leader – and most college football fans – believe.
On Tuesday, ESPN released an article that ranked the top 100 college football players in 2023, with offensive and defensive Buckeyes littered from top to bottom. Here are all the Ohio State players mentioned and where ESPN's staff ranked them:
No. 3 - Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR, Ohio State, junior
Notable 2022 stats: 1,263 yards, 14 TDs
2022 ranking: 9Harrison was an unanimous All-American in 2022 – Ohio State's first – and was named the Big Ten's Wide Receiver of the Year. He caught 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns. He went over the 100-yard receiving mark in seven games last season.
*Harrison was ranked behind USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers on the list.
No. 14 - Emeka Egbuka
WR, Ohio State, junior
Notable 2022 stats: 1,151 yards, 10 TDs
2022 ranking: 32Egbuka was a Paul Hornung finalist last season after hauling in 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns. A second-team All-Big Ten pick, he finished third in the conference in receptions, yards and touchdowns. Along with Harrison, Egbuka will cause opposing defenses fits as the Buckeyes' offense figures to keep humming along.
No. 33 - TreVeyon Henderson
RB, Ohio State, junior
Notable 2022 stats: In 8 games, ran for 571 yards and 6 TDs
2022 ranking: NRHenderson battled injuries after a stellar freshman season. He played in just eight games last year but rushed for over 100 yards in victories over Wisconsin (121 yards) and Michigan State (118 yards). He ran for 571 yards and six touchdowns this past fall after churning out 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021.
No. 47 - Tommy Eichenberg
LB, Ohio State, senior
Notable 2022 stats: 12 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT
2022 ranking: 71Eichenberg led the Buckeyes' defense with 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. His 77 solo tackles paced the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection while also being named a Lott IMPACT finalist and Butkus Award semifinalist.
No. 50 - Miyan Williams
RB, Ohio State, senior
Notable 2022 stats: 825 rushing yards, 14 TDs
2022 ranking: NRIn 2022, Williams made the All-Big Ten third team after rushing for 825 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he led the Buckeyes in both of those categories. He ran for a career-high 189 yards and five touchdowns in Ohio State's 49-10 victory over Rutgers, and he eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times last season.
No. 85 - JT Tuimoloau
DL, Ohio State, sophomore
Notable 2022 stats: 28 tackles, 10.5 TFLs
2022 ranking: NRTuimoloau earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2022 after recording 28 tackles with 10.5 tackles for loss. He dominated in Ohio State's 44-31 victory at Penn State after compiling six tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, forcing one fumble and recovering another fumble.
That's six Buckeyes who landed in the top 100, and I can think of several more who could probably deserve a nod: Donovan Jackson, Cade Stover, Jack Sawyer, Steele Chambers, Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom?
Maybe some of those names are a stretch for a top 100 college football players list, but I only mean to point out that Ohio State is loaded (L-O-A-D-E-D) with talent this year. Outside of questions about the quarterback and offensive line, the Buckeyes may have the most talented team in America.
If all the Ohio State players ESPN ranked in their top 100 – and all of the honorable mentions I included – perform to the level they are capable of this fall, we could be in for a special season in 2023.
WHY ZERO? In 1973, the NFL standardized uniform numbers by position, at which point only quarterbacks, punters and placeholders were allowed to wear the single-digit numbers. There was a catch, however: No one could wear No. 0.
Almost 50 years later, in 2021, the NFL became more lenient with uniform numbers. And in January 2023, the NFL passed a rule that allowed all players except offensive and defensive linemen to wear No. 0. According to NFL Nation, 22 players will wear the number in 2023. One of them will be former Ohio State defensive end Jonathon Cooper, who plays outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos.
Cooper told ESPN the reason behind his decision to wear No. 0 this season:
Cooper, a seventh-round pick from Ohio State in the 2021 draft, was awarded the "Block O" jersey in his final season with the Buckeyes. The award is in honor of the late Bill Willis, an All-American and national champion in his career with the Buckeyes (1942-44). Willis' No. 99 was retired by the school, but the Block O jersey was added to honor a player's accountability, character and toughness. Cooper was one of the first two players to receive the honor.
"I had my best year in that jersey. It's probably the best award I ever got at Ohio State. I have it framed and hanging at my house," Cooper said. "And as soon as the NFL said we could wear zero, I wanted it. There was a little bit of a discussion between a whole bunch of players here, but I came away with it. It looks cool on a jersey, but it means something to me. For whatever reason, I think that number says whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do."
Now, that's cool.
Former Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell will accompany Cooper in wearing No. 0 this season. The record-breaking Buckeye inked a deal with the New York Giants in the offseason and didn't love his number options.
"It was either 19 or 80-something because of all the retired single-digit numbers for the Giants," ESPN staffer Jordan Raanan wrote. "Luckily for Campbell, the new rule allowing players to wear zero passed less than two weeks after he signed."
Parris Campbell will wear No. 0 pic.twitter.com/H5HHsAkQLn
— New York Giants (@Giants) March 29, 2023
Ohio State has yet to award its Block O recipient for the 2023 season. However, that won't stop me from speculatin' who should receive the honor.
My leader in the clubhouse is wide receiver Xavier Johnson, who started his Ohio State career as a walk-on, received a scholarship and has since recorded a touchdown catch in a College Football Playoff game. He is a leader who holds his teammates accountable and displays tremendous character and toughness.
Other candidates: Tommy Eichenberg, Cade Stover, Avery Henry
FIGHT ’TIL THE END. It's time for an Ohio State wrestling update *repeated bullhorn noises*. Sophomore Jesse Mendez is a force, folks. This week, the 2023 All-American waltzed to a title match at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan, and while he didn't win that bout, he will still come home to the United States as a silver medalist.
.@PhenoMendez takes home a silver medal at 65 kg
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) August 15, 2023
Incredibly proud of Jesse's performance in Amman, Jordan representing Team USA at the U20 World Championships#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/7yVkLtFX95
Mendez opened his tournament with a 2-1 decision over Mykyta Zubal (Ukraine). He then followed that performance up with three more victories – a 7-2 decision over Aden Sakybaev (Kyrgyzstan), a 13-4 decision over Ion Berghi (Moldova) and a 3-1 decision over Abdullah Toprak (Turkey).
In all four bouts, and for much of the championship match, the Crown Pointe, Indiana, native was sensational in all aspects of his craft. That allowed him to secure his first world medal in the third attempt of his young career, as he took eighth at the 2021 U20 World Championships and ninth at the 2019 U17 World Championships.
Mendez finished with a 19-9 record as a true freshman in 2022-23 with the Buckeyes. He earned All-America status with a 5-3 record at the NCAA Championships, finishing sixth overall. He returns to Ohio State in 2023-24 with hopes to continue his success at 133 pounds, a weight class where Tom Ryan's squad had lacked talent and experience in the two seasons before Mendez's arrival.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Super Freak” by Rick James.
CUT TO THE CHASE. A woman says she fractured her ankle when she slipped on a piece of prosciutto... Some athletes with a fear of flying are leaning on greater resources than their predecessors... Umpire Angel Hernandez loses again in lawsuit vs MLB when appeals court refuses to reinstate case... Deep brain stimulation helps stroke survivor regain independence... Giant ice ball falls out of the sky, dents golf course green.
