Welcome to the Skull Session.
Ohio State football returned over the weekend – and it was beautiful.
Onto The next ne pic.twitter.com/0WYMg3LIi7
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 1, 2024
Have a good Labor Day.
“HE’S BUILT DIFFERENT.” Folks, Jeremiah Smith is a dude.
All offseason, people (including me) placed massive expectations on the 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class. Somehow, he exceeded those expectations in Ohio State’s season opener, collecting six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns as the Buckeyes’ top pass catcher.
“I don’t really feel pressure,” Smith said. “I want to go out there and play football and win games. I know all the hype around me was crazy coming in. I wanted to come in and be a guy, just work and not be about all the hype. I want to impress my coaches, impress my peers around me, my teammates.”
While I will, of course, discuss the impressive aspects of Smith’s performance, I have to start with the drop. On Ohio State's opening possession, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly dialed up a beaut, ordering Will Howard – also excellent in the season opener – to complete a screen pass to Smith. The pass bounced off the No. 4 on Smith's chest and fell to the turf. Had the freshman hauled the football in, he could have had a wall of offensive linemen lead him to a touchdown.
"I'm glad it happened," Smith said, explaining his relief that his first collegiate drop had come and gone. "(My coaches and teammates) told me, 'Calm down. You're good. Move on.'"
In other words, his coaches and teammates said, Be a goldfish.
And he was.
Smith moved on – and then he took over the game.
On Ohio State's next drive, Smith collected three receptions: An 11-yard catch when the Buckeyes faced 3rd-and-10, an 8-yard reception when the Buckeyes faced 3rd-and-4 and a 16-yard touchdown when the Buckeyes faced 3rd-and-6. (You think Howard has a preferred receiver when it matters most?)
This was...
Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Ohio State's first touchdown of the 2024 season
Will Howard's first touchdown for Ohio State
Jeremiah Smiths first touchdown for Ohio Statepic.twitter.com/2dMO2iF2MV
"If you get him in one-on-one coverage, he's gonna win," Howard said. "All I have to do is give him a chance, and he'll do the rest."
In the second quarter, Howard continued to look Smith's direction, connecting with him on a slant route for a 9-yard score. With that touchdown, Smith tied Michael Wiley (Rice, 1996) for the most touchdown catches for an Ohio State freshman in a season-opener. He's the first Buckeye since Ted Ginn Jr. (Northern Illinois, 2006) to score two receiving touchdowns in the first half of a season opener altogether, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Oh, and to end his afternoon of contributions, Smith secured a casual one-handed catch as Akron defensive back Daymon David was all over him.
Wait, Jeremiah Smith is goated. pic.twitter.com/9ZZ3CDXPtc
Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
"Sometimes you look at him, and you don't even think he's quite human," Ryan Day said. "He's built different."
According to Howard, Smith will continue to prove how different he's built this season.
"Jeremiah, he's a dude," Howard said. "This is just the start for him. I'm excited to see how this season goes for him. He's a phenomenal player."
HE'S BACK! Lathan Ransom is back like he never left.
After Ransom missed Ohio State's final four games last season because of a torn ligament in his foot, the veteran defensive back returned in the Buckeyes' win over Akron, collecting a team-best nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a 27-yard scoop-and-score.
Is that good?
With his performance, Ransom reminded the college football world of his immense talent. That was his mission on Saturday, as Ransom revealed after the game that he had felt overlooked entering the 2024 season.
"Going into the season, I had a lot of people doubting me. A lot of people forgot about the player I am," Ransom said. "I went out there and grinded. I want to continue to go out there and play as confident as I can. Especially with the defense I am in, I feel like we showed (our talent)."
Gosh, I love Lathan Ransom.
While the Um, actually! crowd has been quick to point out Ransom's involvement (or lack thereof) in the 29-yard completion between Akron's Tahj Bullock and Jake Newell – the Zips' largest play of the game – and use it as evidence to claim Ransom's not all that, I refuse to believe such nonsense.
What do I believe?
Strong man run fast hit hard.
Sometimes, that's all you need to love a football player!
HOLY PANCAKE! Another strong man who runs fast and hits hard?
TreVeyon Henderson.
TreVeyon Henderson pic.twitter.com/VTnjzIU5pm
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2024
Henderson's block made me want to yell Bah gawd! That man has a family! but then I remembered I was seated in a press box full of professional journalists. Oh well. I know that somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri, Orlando Pace cheered for me.
While the CBS Sports video shows Henderson's block, it does not show Henderson's reaction to said block. For those who didn't see it elsewhere, Henderson was lit, celebrating as if he had popped a trademark home-run touchdown. But no – it was a pancake block, one so good he and Jelani Thurman celebrated it in the backfield after Howard completed his pass to Carnell Tate.
Send that tape to the NFL, TreVeyon!
THE GREATEST ALIVE. On Saturday, Ohio State celebrated a man who never wants to be celebrated. His name is Archie Griffin. Have you heard of him?
The Buckeyes honored the two-time Heisman Trophy winner with a statue, a helmet sticker, a ceremonial coin toss and a framed uniform. Griffin also became the 15th non-band member to dot the 'i' in Script Ohio.
However, despite all of those celebratory acts, Griffin still didn't make the afternoon about himself, but rather the teammates who helped him accomplish all that he accomplished as a member of the Buckeyes.
"I want (people) to think of my teammates opening up holes for me, making it possible for me to win two Heisman trophies. But most importantly, I want them to remember those teams never lost in this stadium."
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) August 31, 2024
-Legendary @OhioStateFB running back Archie Griffin to @JennyDell_ pic.twitter.com/mPwbTzI4hR
"I want (people) to think of the fact that I played on some great teams at The Ohio State University. I want to think about my teammates opening up holes for me, making it possible for me to win two Heisman Trophies," Griffin told Jenny Dell of CBS Sports. "But most importantly, I want them to remember those teams never lost in this stadium."
All class, all the time.
Archie Griffin is one of a kind!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Carmen Ohio" - TBDBITL.
CUT TO THE CHASE. ESPN networks, ABC and Disney channels go dark on DirecTV on a busy night for sports... Scottie Scheffler caps off record season with FedEx Cup title and a $25 million bonus... As Oasis reunites, a timeline of the Britpop band’s ups and downs... Everybody loves Archie.
