Welcome to the Skull Session.
C.J. Stroud has been nominated for Best Breakthrough Athlete at the ESPYs, so I will now congratulate C.J. Stroud on winning Best Breakthrough Athlete at the ESPYs because who else would?
H7M pic.twitter.com/P1ejAJM74d
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 27, 2024
Have a good Friday.
THIS COMMITMENT, I LIKE IT! ANOTHER! Three-star Ohio prospect Brody Lennon committed to Ohio State on Thursday. With Lennon and four-star Oklahoma prospect Nate Roberts now committed, Ryan Day and Keenan Bailey secured their second straight two-tight end recruiting class after landing Max LeBlanc and Damarion Witten in 2024.
#BOOM Ohio State has secured a two-tight end recruiting class for the second straight year with the commitment of Ohio tight end Brody Lennon. https://t.co/jFz1FIaWZy
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 27, 2024
Lennon's commitment kicked off a special weekend in Buckeye Nation.
I can feel it.
On Friday, four-star defensive end Trajen Odom will choose between Ohio State, Oregon and USC, while four-star running back Jordon Davison will choose between Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon. At least one of those 2025 prospects will commit to the Buckeyes.
I can feel that, too.
Stay tuned.
“THE WORST SEASON OF MY LIFE.” After a tumultuous sophomore season with the New York Jets, former Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson needed some time away from the Meadowlands, traveling home to Austin, Texas, and taking an overseas vacation to Italy.
“I had to get my feet back under me and my head right,” Wilson told reporters after a recent practice.
Last summer, the Jets signed four-time MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers to a two-year, $75 million contract. Wilson had high hopes for his debut season with the future Pro Football Hall of Famer. Those hopes were crushed when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles on his first drive as quarterback of the franchise.
Wilson called the next 18 weeks “the worst season of my life.”
"I hear that I had a good year, but it was the worst season of my life. Thank you, but that's the reality of it."
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 8, 2024
- Garrett Wilson on not meeting his expectations this year pic.twitter.com/n4LecaDwsI
Though he remained a consistent threat on offense – Wilson collected 95 receptions for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Jets player to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Keyshawn Johnson in 1998-99 – the former top 10 pick had to endure another season with multiple starting quarterbacks. Following a year with Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco in 2022, Wilson caught passes from Wilson, Trevor Siemian and Tim Boyle in 2023.
As one can imagine, that frustrated Wilson – a lot. In an offseason appearance on ESPN New York, Wilson said he shared those frustrations with the Jets’ front office.
“They’ve definitely let me vent, I guess you could say,” Wilson said. “I’m appreciative of that. I know that isn’t the case everywhere and that isn’t the case often. They allow me to do that and they have insightful answers to all the things I ask, and all of my worries, and it all comes with good answers from them. They have an open-door policy. We had our exit meetings this week. … Even past that, we’ve had conversations. That’s something I don’t take for granted because the intentions are there to get this thing the way it should be.”
First scrimmage.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) June 25, 2024
Freshman year of high school. @GarrettWilson_V went for 10 touchdowns pic.twitter.com/fQmyDA6Kju
It could be a coincidence – it’s not – but soon after Wilson made those comments, the Jets traded Zach Wilson to the Broncos and declined to extend their contracts with Siemian and Boyle. The franchise then signed veteran free agent Tyrod Taylor and drafted former Florida State quarterback and ACC Player of the Year Jordan Travis.
Wilson looks forward to building relationships with Taylor and Travis, but if he had his way, Rodgers will be his only quarterback this season.
“If we can find a way to stay upright out there and keep Aaron on his feet, I’m excited for that and everything that comes with it,” Wilson said. “Winning games and winning in the playoffs – I’m confident that we do that (with him). … We’re going to score points, and I’ll have something to do with it. We all will, so I’m excited.”
Me too, Garrett. Me too.
NICE KICKS. Folks, Marvin Harrison Jr.'s debut cleats with New Balance have arrived.
They are cleannnnnnnn.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and New Balance have officially unveiled its first-ever American Football cleat pic.twitter.com/409oqbDAdH
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) June 27, 2024
Question: Do you think the cleats contain special powers that make those who wear them perform like Marvin Harrison Jr.?
JUST A KID FROM LAGOS. Unlike Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr., Praise Olatoke did not arrive at Ohio State as a five-star prospect. In fact, Olatoke arrived at Ohio State with zero stars and no football experience at all.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in Scotland, Olatoke immersed himself in rugby and sprinting throughout his childhood. Following a decorated youth track career, Olatoke attended Canada’s Trinity Western before transferring to Ohio State in 2021. He spent two years on the Buckeyes’ track team, though a torn Achilles tendon ended one of them.
In 2023, Olatoke participated in club football at Ohio State. The season started with him not knowing how to put on pads; it ended with him catching seven passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns. His 33 yards per catch ranked first in the National Club Football Association.
While Olatoke lacks experience and pedigree, the Los Angeles Chargers see potential in the 6-foot-3, 190-pound pass-catcher and signed him to a contract on June 14. After an impressive two weeks at the Chargers’ offseason workouts, Leonard Solms of ESPN has called Olatoke “Ohio State’s most unlikely NFL product.”
Olatoke had to overcome disappointment on his road through the IPPP [International Player Pathway Program]. He worked out for Philadelphia Eagles, but was unsuccessful in his efforts to convince them to sign him. The Chargers, however, needed little in the way of persuasion once they saw his electric pace and willingness to work and learn.
"After the IPP and stuff, there were a couple of teams that reached out," he said. "One of them was the Eagles. I went to their rookie minicamp, but that didn't work out. A few weeks later, the Chargers reached out to me and said, 'Hey, we would be interested in bringing you out to our minicamp'." Before the Chargers reached out, he was beginning to fear that American football was not for him after all.
"At first, I wasn't sure what was going on, because they only sent me a one-way ticket. I asked them on the second-to-last day, 'Hey, am I going back home'. Nobody could give me a straight answer. … On the last day — which was a Thursday — one of the staff said, 'Hey, you've got a meeting with the GM'. I walked in and saw the GM. There were a couple of other people there and they basically said: 'We like you. We think we're going to take a chance on you, so if you're up for it and you're willing to work, we're going to sign you.'
"There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger."
I hope Olatoke makes the active roster – there will be four rounds of roster cuts in August – because, man, that would be a "dream come true."
It would also make for an incredible addition to Ohio State’s #DevelopedHere file.
Ohio State’s most unlikely NFL product makes his NFL debut.
Yeah, I like the sound of that.
SONG OF THE DAY. "I FEEL IT" - Jon Bellion.
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