Skull Session: Ohio State is Back to School, Chris Booker Wants to Be a Pro, Brian Hartline is As Good As They Come and C.J. Stroud Has Heisman Trophy Challengers

By Chase Brown on August 24, 2022 at 5:00 am
Surfs up, dude.
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While we all went about our lives on Tuesday, Ohio State students attended their first day of classes for the fall semester.

From 13th to 17th graders – and whatever long snapper Bradley Robinson is – the Buckeyes have a wide range of academic experience on the roster.

The Ohio State football Twitter sent some of their players off to classes in the most cliché way possible, making them write their names, grades, major and age on a chalkboard and take a picture for memory’s sake. Regardless, I am here for it.

Take a look at first-day photos from Tanner McCalister, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr., Dianté Griffin, Omari Abor, Reis Stocksdale, Donovan Jackson, Devin Brown, Tegra Tshabola and Carson Hinzman.

I kept track of what these players were excited to learn about this semester. We have three votes for football, two votes for school and one vote each for communications, sport, the world, markets and Brutus. I hope these men learn all there is to know about those things this fall.

 CHRIS BOOKER → XFL? Former Ohio State walk-on wide receiver and special teams ace Chris Booker told Eleven Warriors in March that he wishes to continue his football career in the professional ranks after his petition for an extra year of collegiate eligibility was denied.

Booker’s wish could come true in 2023 if he is selected by an XFL franchise from the Player Draft Pool, an assortment of athletes the league has deemed talented enough to compete in the league.

Booker initially attended Dayton as a freshman. After redshirting his first year, he transferred to Ohio State, became an NCFA All-American for the university’s club team and landed himself a walk-on opportunity with the varsity squad. By the end of his career, Booker became one of the program’s top special teams players, playing the third-most special teams snaps of any Buckeye in 2021.

The 6-foot-3, 193-pound Booker held his own in a stacked Ohio State wide receiver room featuring Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Smith-Njigba. Despite only catching two passes for 27 yards in his career, Booker showcased his athleticism in each opportunity on the field and at the Buckeyes’ pro day in the spring. He hopes those brief moments show his potential to professional scouts, especially those who work for NFL franchises.

“I know in my heart that I am good enough,” Booker said of making an NFL roster. “And I also know that I have things waiting for me if football doesn’t work out. But I know that football is what I want to do right now.”

For Booker to continue his pursuit of the NFL, the XFL will be the next-best step. Personally, I think XFL co-founder Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – yes, that one – should just automatically place him on a roster, but that's just me. If he doesn't, may Booker land somewhere in November and have a great first season as a pro.

 HE'S NOT A SECRET ANYMORE. There was a time when Ohio State wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Brian Hartline felt like the best-kept secret in college football. He recruited and developed talent at a high level before sending them off to make money in the NFL.

Naturally, Hartline's exceptional work became a résumé for being labeled the nation's top recruiter, and the former Buckeye wide receiver-turned-assistant coach became a household name for the sport's fans. Oh, and having back-to-back-to-back receivers selected in the NFL draft doesn't hurt, either.

On Tuesday, The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach and Chris Vannini released a “College Sports 40 Under 40: Top young coaches, players, execs, influencers changing the game” and featured Hartline in the coaches and staff category.

At 35 years old, Hartline's impact at Ohio State and in college football writ large is only beginning, indicating he will be on this list for years to come. Head coach Ryan Day understands what Hartline means to the program, and he values having him on the staff as the Buckeyes march forward into the future.

“He played at Ohio State, and he went on to have a great career in the NFL, really maximizing his skill set when he was in the NFL,” Day told The Athletic. “Then, he wanted to get back to helping kids, and he’s got a really good knack for that. He’s very intelligent. He relates well to them. He’s got credibility and he’s become an excellent recruiter and coach. …

“Over the last few years, when you combine the quarterback situation and the production of the wide receiver room, it’s become a very, very attractive place to come. But I also think, you know, it’s also Brian’s approach: his relatability, the way he develops, the way he gets guys better. So it’s a combination of all those things. Brian’s had a huge hand in building this up in the last couple of years.”

 NEVER TELL ME THE ODDS. Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in 2022, according to Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas. However, he's not the player most bettors have been choosing to win it all.

That honor belongs to Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. This offseason, the Crimson Tide edge rusher's odds have improved from 60-1 to 22-1 through Caesars. Anderson's odds have also skyrocketed on DraftKings, where he has received the most bets and the most money wagered among all college football players.

Caesars assistant director of trading Adam Pullen told ESPN earlier this week that Anderson will draw the attention of bettors because of his high level of play on a competitive team.

"Defensive players will get respect from voters if they put up incredible seasons... Anderson is as good of a defensive player as there is in college football. But it takes a lot for a defensive player to win over an offensive player, especially against quarterbacks that put up monster numbers."

While Anderson is the most popular Heisman pick, Pullen shared that larger bets are being placed on Stroud, including a $10,000 wager at +400 odds that was placed in April in Nevada. Overall, 20% of the money put on Heisman Trophy voting at Caesars is on the Ohio State quarterback.

Behind Stroud, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young – the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner – has the second-best odds at +430, followed by USC signal-caller Caleb Williams at +700. Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson has the fourth-best chance of winning with +2000 odds, while Anderson rounds out the top five at +2200.

 SONG OF THE DAY.  “Mind Over Matter” by Young the Giant.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. ABC to air NCAA women's basketball title game for the first time... Gary Gaines, coach of “Friday Night Lights” fame, dies at 73... National Cuban Sandwich Day started as a reporter's attempt at a hoax... A couple has celebrated their anniversary with banana splits for 35 years... Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach has an important message.

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