Welcome to the Skull Session.
Last week, Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs gifted Beats to the entire Ohio State football team.
Special Delivery courtesy of @caleb_downs2 & @beatsbydre
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 23, 2024
#BeatsPartner | #BeatsElite pic.twitter.com/EGjdoA7UEF
"I seriously appreciate y’all for letting me come into The Brotherhood this year. From the bottom of my heart, it means everything,” Downs said in the video. "But we got a job to do. ... We had a good camp. We had a good spring. We had a good summer. Let’s go do what we’re supposed to do.”
Talk about a class act.
Oh, and it's GAME WEEK
Beat Akron.
Have a good Monday.
DIABOLICAL WORK. Over the weekend, the Ohio State football creative team posted a video of Zone 6 in which Emeka Egbuka, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, Mylan Graham, Jayden Ballard, Kojo Antwi and more showed off their immense talent.
Zone 6 workin pic.twitter.com/v5hTaVSa6a
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 24, 2024
After I watched that video, I knew I had to discuss one moment in the Skull Session. No, it's not the one-handed catches from Egbuka and Smith or the toe-tap touchdown from Graham – no, it's the kiss Tate blew to Denzel Burke at the 12-second mark.
That was diabolical.
Ohio State's wide receivers and cornerbacks have trash-talked all preseason, and that moment between Tate and Burke offers us a small look at how cold some of that trash talk can be. Remember what Burke said earlier this summer: "We put a lot of fear in the units. ... We talk the most trash. We want to get in your head. We want to get under your skin."
It doesn't seem like Tate's afraid of BIA – and that's goooood. If BIA doesn't scare Tate, then cornerback rooms across college football won't scare him, either. That's how iron sharpens iron works, yes?
RYAN DAY, QUARTERBACK WHISPERER. Last week, Adam Rittenberg of ESPN asked an unnamed Big Ten defensive coordinator and Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire to share their opinion of Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. The former said, "I don't think he's elite," and the latter said, "He left (Kansas State) for a reason."
Howard might not have been the biggest name in the quarterback transfer cycle, but he inherits the best situation in Columbus. Ohio State is loaded at wide receiver and running back, and added Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator to join head coach Ryan Day, who has lifted the quarterback position to historic heights at the school.
The 6-4, 235-pound Howard brings championship experience from Kansas State in 2022, and set a team record with 48 touchdown passes in 28 career starts.
"Haven't played against him, but watching him on film, the dual [threat] part of that is always scary," a Big Ten defensive coordinator said. "He can run, big, physical guy. Those are tough guys to deal with, especially when you wait to see what Chip [Kelly] does and the influence he has. The style of play with Chip and a guy that can run, that helps. But at the same time, Kansas State was kind of built that way, too. I don't think he's elite. I just think he's a tough, gritty kid. The jury's still out."
Coaches noted that while Kansas State appreciated Howard, the team was ready to move forward with Avery Johnson at quarterback.
"He left for a reason," Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told ESPN. "And that's because of the dude that's going to start at K-State. That says a lot."
While the Big Ten coordinator and McGuire are certified haters, Ryan Day said last week that he sees next-level traits in Ohio State's QB1.
"The first trait I see is size. He's big. He can stand in the pocket. He's strong. That's the first thing you notice about him," Day said in a press conference on Thursday. "Poise, I think that's another trait that he has that's excellent. He feels the rush, but he stands in there. I think the next trait is his top-end speed. He can run 22 miles per hour at that size. There's not a lot of players who can do that. I think that's an extraordinary trait.
"Overall, his leadership and command in the huddle is something he's grown into in the last few months. And then his accuracy. He's been very accurate since he's been here. And when he knows what's going on, and he can anticipate what's happening, it looks right. You feel it. He can hurt you in a bunch of different ways. His ceiling is gonna be up to how he plays this season. But I see a player who has a lot of great skills that translate well to the next level."
No offense to the Big Ten coordinator and McGuire (I mean complete offense to the Big Ten coordinator and McGuire), but I'll trust the quarterback evaluation of a head coach who's produced three Heisman finalists and first-round draft picks over an assistant coach who wouldn't attach their name to criticism and a head coach who's 15-11 in two seasons at Texas Tech.
SETH MCLAUGHLIN. Last week, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic named the most important players (besides quarterbacks) from each top 10 team in the preseason AP Poll. For Ohio State, Feldman picked a new kid on the block: center Seth McLaughlin.
The Buckeyes had a shaky season up front in 2023. They were No. 8 in the Big Ten in rushing offense and five times last year were held under 4 yards a carry in games, including two of their losses, and against Maryland and Penn State were kept under 2 yards a pop. They also were No. 5 in the Big Ten in sacks allowed with 23 after ranking No. 1 and No. 2 in the previous two seasons. McLaughlin, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Alabama with a 4.0 grade point average and a degree in finance, started 25 games for the Tide, but did have some struggles snapping last season, including in the Rose Bowl. The 6-3, 310-pounder, though, hasn’t had any issues in preseason camp and has brought a calming presence to the Buckeyes line. He’s savvy in directing traffic and understanding coverages and also brings an edge with his physicality. Ohio State is loaded everywhere. If this O-line can step up and shine, this team has all the other pieces to win the national title.
I can get on board with that pick.
And here's the good news about it: Two weeks ago, Day called McLaughlin Ohio State's most consistent offensive lineman in preseason camp. On Thursday, Day said McLaughlin has become a prominent leader in the Buckeyes' offense because of his confidence and experience on the field.
"It's poise. It's not getting rattled when coach barks at you and saying, 'OK, I got this. Let me get this under control,'" Day said. "It's seeing something in practice and being able to adjust on the move. It's being prepared when you walk on the field. It's recognizing how hard you have to play at the position. It's kind of all of those things into one. But he has great communication up front. He talks to the guys. He's moving quickly in there. And when you have experience like he has, the game seems to slow down at times, yet he seems to play at a fast level."
If McLaughlin continues to be a smooth operator in the trenches, surely – and don't call me Shirley – the entire Ohio State offense will benefit as a result. That said, consider me excited to see what the Buckeyes' offensive line looks like with McLaughlin at the tip of the spear.
CODY SIMON. On Friday, the Ohio State football creative team released a video that celebrated linebacker Cody Simon as the team's 2024 Block O winner.
Your 2024 ,
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 23, 2024
@Cody_Simon30 pic.twitter.com/2VJpcKtV7w
Simon dreamed of being a college football team's captain when he was a child. Then, when he was a high school football recruit, Simon said former Ohio State linebacker coach Al Washington told him he could be a future captain for the Buckeyes.
Now, years later, Simon is a captain and a Block O recipient.
"I'm extremely honored. I'm so thankful for the opportunity,” Simon said last week. “To have your teammates think about you in that way, I'm just so thankful. There's really no other words besides thankful and honored to be regarded highly among your teammates.”
Simon's Ohio State teammates said it was no surprise when Day announced him as the winner.
"Everybody saw it coming," defensive end Caden Curry said. "Cody is a hard worker day in and day out. He puts the hours in, and everybody respects him at the highest level here."
Simon follows Jonathon Cooper (2020), Thayer Munford (2021), Kamryn Babb (2022) and Xavier Johnson (2023) as Ohio State's fifth Block O recipient.
“Every day, I have to fight to be the best version of myself. And when I look at guys like Coop, Thayer, I look at them now and I'm like, ‘Those guys fought,’” Simon said. “For me, it's ‘How can I be like that?’ Those are the guys who have led the programs for us. Every chance you get, you try to emulate those guys because they are such strong figures in our program.”
Now, Simon is one of those figures. And he's earned it.
"I'm just thankful for the opportunities I've been able to have," Simon said. "I keep that perspective because football can be gone at any moment for us. So I just try to go into every day and try to give my best and put out my best on the field.”
SONG OF THE DAY. "What I Like About You" - The Romantics.
CUT TO THE CHASE. For Danny Jansen, playing for both teams in the same game... Methamphetamine disguised as shipment of watermelons seized at US-Mexico border in San Diego... California woman fed up with stolen mail sends Apple AirTag to herself to catch thief... "Ted Lasso" Season 4 may be happening at Apple TV+.
STILL HERE? Eleven Warriors’ preseason Buckeye 20 is now live. In this release, Caleb Downs checks in as the No. 1 overall player in the Buckeye 20 as Denzel Burke, Jack Sawyer, TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka fill out the top five. Check out our YouTube video on the rankings below in which Dan Hope, Andy Anders and I discuss the Buckeye 20, and stay tuned for an article later this morning detailing how the voting broke down.
