Skull Session: The Fourth Annual Cardale Jones Celebrity Softball Game is Here, Marvin Harrison Jr. Partners With Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and The Predator Returns to Columbus

By Chase Brown on July 21, 2023 at 5:00 am
Cardale Jones
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Devin Brown has a brand-new truck.

I wish I had a brand-new truck.

Let's have a good Friday, shall we?

 BUY ME SOME PEANUTS... At 6:30 p.m., the fourth-annual Cardale Jones Charity Softball Game will occur at Huntington Park in Columbus, with proceeds from the event to benefit Buckeye Cruise for Cancer and Ohio State's James Cancer Hospital.

This year, Jones will welcome over 15 former Ohio State football players to the event, including Big Ten Quarterback of the Year winners Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, NFL standouts Dre'Mont Jones and Parris Campbell and some Jim Tressel-era legends Bobby Carpenter, Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey.

“It feels great because a lot of these guys are living in all different parts of the country, so it’s cool for them to come around and back to Columbus for one common goal: to try to raise money for cancer research,” Jones said last summer. “These guys usually drop whatever they’re doing when I give them a call, and vice versa, so I am appreciative of all of these guys.” 

While I briefly mentioned the accolades of some Ohio State attendees above, here is a deep dive into the résumés of each former Buckeye who will play in the charity event:

  • Bobby Carpenter: BCS national champion (2002), two-time second-team All-Big Ten (2004-05), No. 18 overall pick of the Dallas Cowboys (2006), seven-year NFL career with Cowboys, Rams, Dolphins, Lions and Patriots (2006-12), radio host at 97.1 The Fan (2013-present).
  • Braxton Miller: CFP national champion (2014), two-time first-team All-Big Ten, Big Ten MVP, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2012-13), completed the coolest spin move of all time (2015), No. 85 overall pick of the Houston Texas (2016), four-year NFL career with Texans, Eagles, Browns and Panthers (2016-19)
  • Cardale Jones: CFP national champion (2014), No. 139 overall pick of the Buffalo Bills (2016), four-year NFL career with Bills, Chargers and Seahawks (2016-19), once tweeted that he came to Ohio State to "play FOOTBALL" and not "play SCHOOL" (2012), helps run an Ohio State-focused NIL collective called The Foundation (2021-present).
  • Chris Fields: Recorded 31 catches for 384 yards and seven touchdowns at Ohio State from 2009-13, caught a game-winning touchdown pass from Kenny Guiton to help the Buckeyes defeat Purdue in 2012, CEO of NIL Pro (2021-present).
  • Christian Bryant: Second-team All-Big Ten (2012), No. 241 overall pick of the Los Angeles Rams (2014), four-year NFL career with Rams, Cardinals, Giants and Browns (2014-17), known to possess "the heart of a lion" according to Tyvis Powell.
  • CJ Barnett: Second-team All-Big Ten (2011), honorable mention All-Big Ten (2012), received rookie camp and training camp invite from the New York Giants (2014), Ohio State director of player development (2021-present), sometimes screams about black stripe alerts.
  • Dane Sanzenbacher: Caught 19 touchdowns at Ohio State (2007-10), first-team All-Big Ten (2010), signed as undrafted free agent of the Chicago Bears (2011), four-year NFL career with Bears and Bengals.
  • DeVier Posey: Caught nine touchdowns at Ohio State (2008-10), No. 68 overall pick of the Houston Texans (2012), six-year NFL career with Texans, Jets, Broncos and Ravens, decorated CFL career with a Grey Cup championship, Grey Cup MVP and over 13 touchdowns across five seasons.
  • Dre'Mont Jones: Freshman All-American (2016), third-team All-Big Ten (2017), first-team All-Big Ten (2018), No. 71 overall pick of the Denver Broncos (2019), spent four seasons with Broncos (2019-22), signed a three-year, $51.53 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks in March.
  • J.T. Barrett: CFP national champion (2014), three-time first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2014, 2016-17), third-team All-American (2014), signed as undrafted free agent of the New Orleans Saints (2018), three-year NFL career with Saints, Seahawks and Steelers (2018-20), offensive assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions (2022-present).
  • Marcus Hall: Started at offensive guard in three seasons for the Buckeyes (2009-12), the only player in Ohio State history to complete a double-bird salute inside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
  • Nate Ebner: Former rugby star for the United States national team (2007-08), a walk-on at Ohio State (2009-11), No. 197 overall pick of the New England Patriots in 2012, 10-year NFL career with Patriots and Giants, three-time Super Bowl champion (2015, 2017, 2019), second-team All-Pro (2016).
  • Parris Campbell: CFP national champion (2014), third-team All-Big Ten (2016), second-team All-Big Ten (2017), first-team All-Big Ten (2018), No. 59 overall pick of the Indianapolis Colts (2019), spent four seasons with Colts (2019-22), signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the New York Giants in March.
  • Tyvis Powell: CFP national champion and national championship defensive MVP (2014), signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks (2016), five-year NFL career with Seahawks, Browns, Colts, 49ers, Jets, Texans, Cowboys and Broncos (2016-20). Tries stuff with Ohio State-focused NIL collective The 1870 Society (2022-present).
  • Zach Boren: Started 27 games at fullback for Ohio State (2009-12), team captain (2012), once was pictured hovering over Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner after a sack in The Game (2012), signed as undrafted free agent of the Houston Texans (2013), three-year NFL career with Texans, Chargers and Titans (2013-15), founded The Boren Brothers Waste Services with Justin and Jacoby (2011-present).

 MARV *HANDSHAKE* THE ROCK. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson could not benefit from his name, image and likeness as a defensive tackle at Miami (Fla.) in the 90s. Thirty years later, the movie star and entrepreneur wants to ensure current college athletes have that chance. Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of them.

This week, Johnson announced a partnership with seven college athletes dubbed “The Rock's Warriors” to promote his energy drink, ZOA, which recently hit shelves nationwide. Harrison headlines the all-star cast, which also includes Brock Bowers, Drake Maye and Angel Reese, among others.

From Pete Nakos of On3:

Each athlete was selected by The Rock. Everett Sports Management‘s Rachel Everett, Dan Everett and Jeff Hoffman created and procured the NIL campaign.

“Through this first-of-its-kind NIL expansion program, ZOA Energy will bring together some of the greatest college athletes of our time,” The Rock said in a statement. “I know from experience the grit and hard work that’s required of these college athletes to get the job done. Not just during their championship games or in the classrooms, but every day in the game of life. ZOA gives people that power, that unique energy to fuel themselves and fuel others around them – that’s why I’m super pumped about uniting all of The Rock’s Warriors under one roof.

“I personally selected these phenomenal individuals because of the energy, tenacity, and excitement they bring to the game. With a diverse set of stories and experiences, they’re driven, hungry, talented and ready for ZOA to help fuel them to greatness.”

After I learned of Harrison's partnership with The Rock, I went to a local store and purchased a couple of ZOA drinks, specifically the strawberry watermelon and cherry limeade flavors. Both flavors were good, but I found them similar to other energy drinks on the market, like Celsius and Alani. Still, I would recommend them. Those uninitiated with the Caffeinate and Dominate mindset, however, may want to steer clear, as each ZOA has 190mg of caffeine – more caffeine than two cups of coffee.

 THE PREDATOR RETURNS. Chase Young has a massive season ahead of him.

After the Commanders drafted him No. 2 overall in 2020, the former Ohio State defensive end won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with 44 tackles and 7.5 sacks in year one. But then disaster struck when Young tore his ACL and ruptured his patellar tendon in 2021. He has only appeared in three games since.

In April, the Commanders declined Young's fifth-year option. Barring a new deal with the franchise this fall, he will become a free agent in March 2024. With his future in the nation's capital on the line, Young returned to his roots this offseason, traveling back to Columbus to train with legendary Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

A Twitter user commented that any person with Young's size and athleticism can look good running through cones and around dummies. What matters is how Young will perform when a 6-foot-7, 325-pound offensive tackle stands between him and the quarterback.

That's a fair take. But that doesn't make the video less important.

He looks healthy. He looks fresh. He looks ready. In a make-it-or-break-it time for The Predator, I am confident the former is the more likely outcome than the latter.

 TBDBITL + CSO = FUN. What would the Skull Session be without a bit of love for the Ohio State marching band? Next week, The Best Damn Band in the Land will perform with the Columbus Symphony at its Picnic with the Pops event at the end of the month.

The event, which includes musicians beyond "The Pride of the Buckeyes," will occur at the Bicentennial Pavilion in the Columbus Commons (160 S. High St.) at 8 p.m. on July 28 and 29. Attendees are encouraged to take blankets and chairs to the concert. They are also welcome to bring their own food, beverages, alcohol and coolers to the event, but those items can also be purchased from on-site vendors, including Condado Tacos, City BBQ, Tortilla Street Food and Jeni's Ice Cream, among others.

General admission lawn tickets are $37 for adults and can purchased by phone at 614-469-0939 or on the Picnic with the Pops website. Tickets for children ages 3-12 are $10.50, while children 2 years old and under are free.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys.

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