Skull Session: Jim Knowles Has "Adapted to the Talent" at Ohio State, It's Always Sonny in Columbus and Ohio State is "Rookie University"

By Chase Brown on November 16, 2023 at 5:00 am
Sonny Styles
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Ohio State has a tradition like no other.

Have a good Thursday. 

 A TOP-FIVE STANDARD. This season, Ohio State's defense ranks fourth and second in the FBS at 262.2 yards and 9.9 points allowed per game. Moreover, the Buckeyes rank second in pass defense (149.8 YPG) and 21st in run defense (112.4 YPG) amid the team's 10-0 start to the season.

Surprisingly, Ohio State's most impressive numbers have been achieved without the traditional flashiness of a Jim Knowles-led defense. The Buckeyes rank 73rd in the FBS in turnover margin (-1), 77th in tackles for loss (55) and 84th in sacks (19).

Knowles sees that as a positive.

"I've adapted to the talent, the situation, the program. I'm doing what is in the best interest of the defense and the team to win games and produce a top-five defense," Knowles explained. "I've said it from the beginning, 'When you're at the Ohio State, you should have a top-five defense.' But what's top-five defense? Is it (being) top five in those categories? I've been there. I've been in the top five in those categories. But I don't know how good we were. It was flashy. I feel like (now) it is what it is. We need to keep working on those things that are working for us. Make it easy. Avoid the temptation to go after the flashy play and expose yourself somewhere else."

Knowles said Ohio State's losses to Michigan and Georgia last season revealed areas in which the defensive coordinator's scheme could improve, namely how often the Buckeyes allowed explosive plays to the Wolverines and Bulldogs.

"Gearing toward the 'matchup games,' and we've had a couple of them already, where we were not successful last year, and mainly because of explosive plays, through a lot of study and a lot of planning, you're seeing the benefit of (being less flashy) now," Knowles said.

Since Knowles arrived in Columbus in January 2022, I have been impressed with how he holds himself accountable and his lack of stubbornness. For those reasons, I have confidence that the Buckeyes' defense — which ranked in the top five before Ohio State's matchups with Michigan and Georgia last season — will produce a different, much-improved result this season vs. the Wolverines and potential CFP opponents.

 IT'S ALWAYS SONNY IN COLUMBUS. Sonny Styles, an 18-year-old sophomore who would have been a freshman in 2023 had he not been reclassified in 2022, has been one of Ohio State's best defenders this season.

Strike that (reverse it?) — he's been one of college football's best defenders this season.

Is that good?

Yeah, that's good!

Across 10 appearances in 2023, Styles' 40 tackles are the sixth-most on Ohio State's roster behind Tommy Eichenberg (73), Steele Chambers (57), Davison Igbinosun (45), Cody Simon (42) and Tyleik Williams (40). Moreover, Styles appears in the Buckeyes' top five with four tackles for loss (fourth) and two sacks (third), and he has also collected one pass breakup and one forced fumble in 370 snaps.

"Sonny is taller. He has range," Knowles said of Styles on Tuesday. "He has a lot of experience covering the slot at the nickel position, which is difficult to do as that translates into the boundary. He has a lot of versatility. He made some plays for us last game blitzing. He can be a real factor in the blitz game."

The "last game" to which Knowles refers was, of course, Ohio State's 38-3 win over Michigan State. In 30 snaps, Styles collected three tackles (three solo stops), one tackle for loss and one sack. On Tuesday, he was named Ohio State's "Buck of the Week" for his stellar efforts.

With Lathan Ransom out for the regular season and Josh Proctor working back to 100%, Styles will be in a featured role from here on out. Like with Knowles, I have confidence that Styles is up for the task.

The Pickerington, Ohio, native has first-round pick written all over him. There's no better stage to turn that potential into reality than The Game, the Big Ten championship and the College Football Playoff.

 OSU → ROOKIE U. H/T to NFL Rookie Watch for the content of this section.

Folks, it's well-documented that Ohio State is Wide Receiver U, with Michael Thomas, Noah Brown, Curtis Samuel, Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on NFL rosters.

Today, we make another claim for the Ohio State football program: Rookie University.

Since 2016, the Buckeyes have had five former players win an NFL Rookie of the Year Award for offense or defense: Joey Bosa (Chargers) in 2016, Marshon Lattimore (Saints) in 2017, Nick Bosa (49ers) in 2019, Chase Young (Commanders) in 2020 and Garrett Wilson (Jets) in 2022.

This season, C.J. Stroud (Texans) is a LOCK to win the award. And next season, how does Marvin Harrison Jr. as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year sound? I'd bet on odds for that here and now.

Ohio State is Rookie University.

It has been for a while; it will be for a while.

 ARCHIE IS READY. ARE YOU? For almost 50 years, Ohio State legend Archie Griffin has been college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. In a recent interview with the Worldwide Leader in Sports, he told ESPN's Ryan McGee that he's started to feel some loneliness at the top of the mountain.

"I don't have to be the only two-time winner and I don't really want to be," the 69-year-old Griffin said. "I was the first. That's plenty enough of an honor for me. I can't wait to welcome the second. ... But I've been waiting for a long time, haven't I?"

From McGee's article:

Griffin, who stood at the front of the room at Downtown Athletic Club in 1974 and 1975, is and has long been, the living, smiling, complete opposite of that awards show scenario. He still returns to New York every December. And he still makes sure to shake the hand of every fellow Heisman Trophy winner in attendance, especially the person who has just become the newest designee as "the outstanding college football player in the United States..."

"In 1978, three years after I won it for the second time, I shook the hand of Billy Sims, who has become a dear friend," Griffin said. "I thought, 'Well, he's a junior just like I was and he has a great team coming back at Oklahoma just like I did at Ohio State, so he will definitely be back here winning this again next year!' But he didn't. And there have been so many guys that I was so excited thinking about them maybe getting to experience that thrill a second time, especially now, when so many amazing young talented underclassmen win it. It's crazy to think about, really."

Yet, here we are. It would take a miraculous turn for (Caleb) Williams to repeat. Since Jason White finished behind Matt Leinart, this century alone, those who have returned to college for another shot at bronzed glory have gone 0-for-10, eight who went 0-for-1 and Tebow, who went 0-for-2.

Pressure, temptation, unreasonable expectations., injuries, "Their team was too good," "Their team wasn't good enough" and voter fatigue are reasons McGee used to explain how returning Heisman winners are seemingly unable to win the award for the second time.

Those are all very real reasons, too. Name a player that has returned for another season after winning a Heisman. The explanation for why they didn't probably land in one of those categories.

Still, someday someone will win a second Heisman. It's inevitable — at least it should be. And when that person wins it, Griffin will not be frustrated or upset. He will be thankful to have another man next to him on the mountaintop.

"Yes, one day someone will do it. At least I think so," Griffin said, chuckling. "I just hope that when it does, I am still here to congratulate them in person."

He's ready. Are you?

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Dayman Song" - The "Always Sunny" Cast.

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