Welcome to the Skull Session.
Food for thought:
Good Afternoon. pic.twitter.com/nim51LH50j
— JAY RICHARDSON (@JayRichardson99) February 4, 2025
Have a good Wednesday.
TOUCHDOWN TREVEYON. It’s no secret that I am a TreVeyon Henderson stan. Across four seasons at Ohio State, Henderson transformed from a home-run hitter to a three-down back, becoming one of the best ballcarriers in college football. He also transformed off the field, becoming a spiritual leader in the locker room and a team captain.
According to Todd McShay of The Ringer, NFL teams have noticed Henderson’s evolution in Columbus. Last week, McShay said Henderson has the potential to rise draft boards in April, with some evaluators telling McShay the Ohio State running back could be selected in the first round, much like Ezekiel Elliott in 2016.
“TreVeyon Henderson, man, he’s going early. Like, he might go first round early,” McShay said on his podcast. “Speed, explosiveness, and you want to know what scouts freaking love about this guy? The blocking. I was talking to a director of personnel today, and he was like, “The blocking,’ and I was like, ‘Just like Zeke?’ He said, ‘Exactly. You know what you’re getting. You keep him on the field every single play. He doesn’t have to come off the field.’”
Henderson collected 171 touches for 1,300 yards (7.6 yards per touch) and 11 touchdowns this season. In 47 career appearances for the Buckeyes, he recorded 667 touches for 4,614 yards and 48 scores. As I mentioned in a Skull Session last week, Henderson never lost a fumble on those attempts – which, again, is one of the more insane stats I’ve seen for a football player, regardless of the level of competition.
“You see that speed, and the way he cuts, and everyone I talk to, it’s the same thing: ‘He’s going to be a better NFL player than a college player in terms of production and consistency.’ His best football, he’s kind of getting ready to peak. Teams recognize it,” McShay said. “Henderson could be an RB2, and there’s some buzz, like, I don’t know if he’s getting out of round one.”
While McShay’s praise has me excited for Henderson’s draft prospects, I feel I must temper expectations... for now. In their latest two-round mock drafts, Matt Miller of ESPN had Henderson at No. 64 to the Kansas City Chiefs (No, God. No, God, please no! No! No! Noooooo!) and Dane Brugler of The Athletic had Henderson at No. 44 to the Dallas Cowboys (I hate America’s Team as much as the next person, but it would be cool to see Henderson follow Zeke in Dallas).
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS. While Henderson and, like, 100 other Buckeyes are off to the NFL in 2025, Ohio State will return several starters from this past season, including offensive linemen Carson Hinzman and Tegra Tshabola (plus Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld, both of whom earned starts in the CFP), wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, linebacker Sonny Styles, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and safety Caleb Downs.
Of those several Buckeyes, Chris Low of ESPN considers Smith and Downs preseason All-Americans. Low also sees tight end Max Klare, an offseason transfer from Purdue, as the best at his position.
WR: Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams (Alabama)
If he were eligible, Smith might be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. His offensive coordinator at Ohio State, Chip Kelly, said it best: You just don't see guys with Smith's size (6-3, 225), speed and ability to go up and get the ball. Smith was dynamic as a true freshman, especially in the Buckeyes' dash to the CFP title. He finished the year with 15 touchdown catches and averaged 17.3 yards per reception.
Williams didn't finish his freshman season the way he started it, but still proved to be one of the most explosive players in the nation. He had five touchdown catches in his first four games, including the game-winner against Georgia, and finished the season with 10 touchdowns (8 receiving, 2 rushing). Williams averaged 18 yards per catch and tied for fourth nationally with five receptions of 50-plus yards. Look for even more big plays in 2025.
TE: Max Klare
Transfers played a key role in Ohio State's 2024 national championship, and the Buckeyes hope Klare can make a similar impact in 2025 after transferring from Purdue. The 6-4, 240-pound Klare was one of the country's most productive tight ends last season, racking up 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He'll be invaluable in helping the Buckeyes finish drives. He had 33 catches for first downs last season.
S: Caleb Downs and Rod Moore (Michigan)
For two years, Downs has been one of the best safeties in America. He followed up a stellar freshman season at Alabama with an even better sophomore season at Ohio State on a defense that spearheaded the Buckeyes' run to the national championship. Downs is everything a coach would want in a safety. He was third on Ohio State with 81 tackles, 7.5 of them for loss, and had two interceptions. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.
Moore didn't play a down last season for Michigan after suffering a noncontact ACL tear in spring practice, but he was still named a captain, an indication of what he means to the Wolverines. Moore announced last month that he would return for his senior season after earning All-Big Ten honors in both 2022 and 2023. He has made 27 starts going back to his freshman season and has the experience and versatility to shore up any defense.
While the Buckeyes will have a new starting quarterback, running back, slot receiver, tight end, left tackle, right tackle, defensive end (two), defensive tackle (two), linebacker, cornerback and safety next season… *inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale* … this preseason All-American list reminded me of this fact: Ohio State never rebuilds; it reloads. With Smith, Downs and Klare at the forefront, the 2025 Buckeyes will be back competing for a national championship next fall. Book it.
REMEMBER THIS? This week, I’ve had a moment from Ohio State’s 2024 spring game come to mind a lot: When Will Howard mistimed a throw to Jeremiah Smith in the end zone.
The moment itself was unspectacular. However, as I reflect on it 10 months later, there are a couple of reasons that it stands out now.
One, that Ryan Day told Joel Klatt, “Watch this.” Even at that moment, Day understood that Smith – the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class – could make an impact for the Buckeyes as an 18-year-old. Of course, he did that. Smith caught 76 passes for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season, winning Big Ten Freshman and Receiver of the Year.
Two, that Howard and Smith’s timing was off in the spring game, but not when it mattered most in the national championship game. That “3rd-and-Jeremiah” was earned through countless reps in the offseason and regular season. It was also earned because Howard and Smith overcame failure after failure in games. For example, Howard’s interception against Marshall or his overthrow against Penn State.
That, dear reader, is called development.
THIS AND THAT. Another Skull Session, another This and That™.
You know the drill.
Friend of the program, Buckeye Frank (Buckeye Productions), has released an Ohio State College Football Playoff Cinematic Recap. Like all of Frank’s work, the video is excellent.
In the past couple of weeks, former NFL head coach Jon Gruden has spent time at the Fired Football Coaches Association, an organization Gruden created when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired him in 2008. On Saturday, Gruden posted a video to YouTube in which he talked ball with Henderson, tight end Gee Scott Jr. and defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. I thought it was interesting!
Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame and Penn State are poised to be the best teams in college football next season, according to FanDuel. This week, the sportsbook released win totals for some of the sport’s premier programs, and the Buckeyes, Ducks, Irish and Nittany Lions led all schools with 10.5.
NEW: Noteable 2025 College Football Win Totals via @FDSportsbook
— On3 (@On3sports) February 4, 2025
What do you like? https://t.co/VLrg5D9T4X pic.twitter.com/Mu8HhTkdZa
That's all, folks!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Keep Yourself Alive" - Queen.
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