Welcome to the Skull Session.
Florida is college basketball's national champion...
THE FLORIDA GATORS ARE YOUR 2025 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 8, 2025
THE GATORS HAVE RETURNED TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/NNWAaEcYuY
... thanks, in part, to one of the most anticlimactic final possessions of all time.
YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: THE FLORIDA GATORS #MarchMadness @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/XatLv5x2hm
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 8, 2025
Have a good Tuesday.
DRAFT CLASS SUPERLATIVES. With the 2025 NFL draft a little over three weeks from now, we will hear all about the top prospects' strengths and weaknesses.
This week, ESPN's Matt Bowen set out to answer this question: Who is the best in the 2025 class at each individual skill? To answer it, he compiled a list of skill superlatives of this year's draft class spanning 100 (!) different categories. Here's where Ohio State's prospects appeared on the list:
Best short-area burst: Quinshon Judkins
With the burst to dart through traffic, Judkins can hit the second level quickly and find the end zone on goal-line carries. He had 14 rushing scores for the Buckeyes last season.
Best ball security as ballcarrier and best pass-protecting back: TreVeyon Henderson
Over his past two seasons, Henderson had 346 offensive touches and didn't fumble. … Henderson stands up to blitzing linebackers in protection, using pro-level technique and aggression to keep his quarterback clean. With 77 career receptions at Ohio State, he has the profile to play on third downs early in his NFL career.
Best at getting open: Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka is a smooth and savvy route runner who can make himself available to the quarterback. He caught 81 passes and scored 10 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season, and he was considered "open" or "wide open" on 80 of his 108 targets, per ESPN tracking.
Best at opening running lanes: Donovan Jackson
Jackson can drive defenders off the ball, and he has the mobility to reach, combo and climb in the zone run game. Jackson started the season at guard, then bumped outside to left tackle when Josh Simmons suffered a knee injury. Per ESPN tracking, he blew only four run-blocking assignments.
Best edge setter: JT Tuimoloau
Tuimoloau uses his play strength and coached technique to set a hard edge versus run schemes. He had 14 run stops last season, along with 22 tackles for loss.
Best fumble forcer: Jack Sawyer
In the College Football Playoff semifinals, Sawyer sacked Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, stripping the ball and returning it for a touchdown to seal a win for Ohio State. Sawyer forced three fumbles last season.
Best defensive back technique: Denzel Burke
A four-year starter for the Buckeyes, Burke is well-schooled in his back pedal with controlled movements and pace. He can disrupt and mirror in press coverage, too.
Best tone-setter: Lathan Ransom
He's a physical safety who drops the hammer on contact. Ransom's tape is loaded with "remember me" hits. He had 7.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2024.
I'll miss all these Buckeyes, but man, I'll miss Henderson the most. He's as complete as a running back can be! Good thing James Peoples is next up.
ALL QUEUED UP. Last week, The Draft Network’s Justin Melo interviewed Quinshon Judkins to learn more about the running back’s Ohio State career and where he hopes to land in the 2025 NFL draft. The Q&A article had several great quotes that I’ll share here:
JM: Now that you've had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Ole Miss to Ohio State? It worked out beautifully for you.
Quinshon Judkins: I feel like going from Ole Miss to Ohio State was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. Not only did that move work out for me from a footballing perspective, but I also met so many great people and learned so many important lessons. I built relationships at Ohio State that will last me a lifetime. It helped develop me as a person and player. I’m going to be a better pro because of it.
…
JM: You rushed for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns. What do you think it was about your mentality and approach that allowed you to contribute right away?
Quinshon Judkins: That’s just who I am as a player. Even though I was only in college for three seasons, I had a terrific amount of success and rushing yards. That's just who I am as a player. I have a very driven mentality. I’m hungry. You see it on tape. I play the game with a ton of passion. That’s who I am as a player. I’m always very determined to score and help the team win games. I love being successful and producing at a high level. I think my daily approach speaks for itself.
…
JM: You shared the backfield with TreVeyon Henderson. Both of you were super productive. How did iron sharpen iron? Working in a committee made you a selfless player and helped prepare you for the next level.
Quinshon Judkins: Both TreVeyon Henderson and I had that same mindset. We helped each other. We embraced the competitive aspect. We have a lot of things in common. We both wanted to win. We kept winning the main thing. Our biggest goal was to produce for the team. We both helped bring success to the program. We had different skill sets. We were always on the same page. I have a great relationship with TreVeyon Henderson outside of football. It made it even easier to work together. He’s a great person. We enjoyed each other’s company. It made it easy to work with him on the football side of things.
…
JM: This conversation has highlighted why you’re one of the most dynamic talents available in the 2025 NFL Draft. When a team uses a premium draft pick on Quinshon Judkins, what kinda impact is he going to make at the next level?
Quinshon Judkins: You’re bringing in a passionate player who loves to play ball. I’m going to bring energy and passion to the locker room. I’m going to do what I do best on the field, and that's to produce at a high level. Most importantly, I’m going to be a professional. I’m going to rally around my teammates and build great relationships. I’m a natural leader. I’m going to impact our locker room in a positive way. If you draft me, I’m going to come in and produce right away. I’m coming in to win and make history. I want to be special.
I agree with Judkins: Transferring to Ohio State was one of the best decisions he's ever made. Eh, no. I disagree with Judkins. Transferring to Ohio State was the best decision he's ever made. May we never forget Judkins' 121-yard, three-touchdown effort in the national championship game. That was a legacy-altering performance for him and many others!
ON THE RISE. Over the weekend, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg named college football’s top assistant coaches and coordinators entering the 2025 season. This will shock no one, but Brian Hartline appeared among the 22 names:
Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline: He has built his reputation on overseeing the top wide receiver room in the country at Ohio State. A former Buckeyes wide receiver, Hartline returns to the primary coordinator role after Chip Kelly's departure and will have more autonomy overseeing the offense for the defending national champions. He's not going to leave his alma mater for just any job, but he can position himself as a higher-echelon candidate if Ohio State's offense can maintain or elevate its level of production.
While Hartline is a no-brainer for an article like this, I think an under-the-radar coach – or a “name to watch,” as Rittenberg called it – is Keenan Bailey.
At 29 years old, Bailey is Ohio State’s tight ends coach and a co-offensive coordinator to Hartline. A Notre Dame graduate, Bailey’s career started with the Irish as a recruiting analyst in 2014. After two years in South Bend, Bailey came to Ohio State in 2016 and worked up the ladder from offensive intern (2016-18), offensive quality control coach (2019-21), special assistant to the head coach (2022), tight ends coach (2023-24) and, now, co-offensive coordinator.
Amid his rapid rise in the coaching profession, Bailey has become a desirable asset for other schools. During Ohio State’s 2023 season, he emerged as one of three candidates for East Carolina’s offensive coordinator position. While Bailey returned to Columbus – and appears to have settled into his new role with the Buckeyes – Ryan Day would be wise to keep Bailey around as the perennial 30 under 30 coach continues to draw attention and praise at one of college football’s premier programs.
ONE-LEGGED WILLY. From a hilarious Dr. Pepper ad to an impactful appearance for the National Marrow Donor Program, Will Howard has capitalized on his platform since winning a national championship as Ohio State’s quarterback.
The future NFL quarterback capitalized on his platform again this week, appearing on Gruden’s QB Class and showing off his next-level football IQ to former Super Bowl champion head coach Jon Gruden.
In addition to his classroom session with Gruden, Howard will continue maximizing his platform before the NFL draft (April 24-26), as NFL Films announced last week that Howard will join Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Penn State defensive end Adbul Carter and Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams on this year’s edition of Hey Rookie: Welcome to the NFL.
Jeanty. Carter. Howard. Williams.
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) April 2, 2025
A new season of #HeyRookie premieres Monday on ESPN pic.twitter.com/TwDbJzwePc
According to ESPN PR, Hey Rookie will follow the same four-episode structure as the 2023 and 2024 editions of the show. The season premiered Monday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN, with subsequent episodes set to release at the same time on April 14, 21 and 28.
SONG OF THE DAY. "One Shining Moment" – Luther Vandross.
ONE SHINING MOMENT, 2025 pic.twitter.com/ZAcdPEi4fs
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 8, 2025
CUT TO THE CHASE. Scientists genetically engineer wolves with white hair and muscular jaws like the extinct dire wolf... A remote Australian town seeks a doctor, offering a $400,000 salary and free rent... Gayle King, Katy Perry among crew of all women launching to space next week... The Vindication of Paige Bueckers.
