Skull Session: Ohio State is Built on Brotherhood, Tom Pelissero Names Emeka Egbuka “A Potential Surprise First-Rounder” and Peter Schrager Calls Jack Sawyer "Unbelieveable”

By Chase Brown on April 21, 2025 at 5:00 am
Jermaine Mathews Jr.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

A holiday weekend means the return of the critically-acclaimed* Rapid Fire Skull Session™.

*Critics have not acclaimed The Rapid Fire Skull Session™; however, I would appreciate it if one or more did. If you know some critics, send them this article.

Have a good Monday.

 BUILT ON BROTHERHOOD. Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton made headlines last week when his teammate, center Cash Cleveland, entered the transfer portal after one season with the Buffaloes.

Seaton's post led to this incredible response from Jermaine Mathews Jr.:

For real.

Take to 'em, Jermaine!

 A SURPRISE FIRST ROUNDER? Tom Pelissero is an NFL Network insider who knows the professional league far, far more than I do. However, I think Pelissero lost his marbles for a second last week when he named Emeka Egbuka as a "potential surprise first-rounder" in the 2025 NFL draft.

With this receiver class, the first-round attention has largely focused on Arizona big-play threat Tetairoa McMillan and Texas speedster Matthew Golden. But don't overlook Egbuka, Ohio State's standout slot receiver who racked up a school-record 205 catches for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 50 college games (37 starts). Egbuka (6-0 7/8, 202) has been durable, missing just three games for health reasons (ankle injury in 2023) over his four years as a Buckeye. And he's arguably more explosive than former Ohio State teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went 20th overall to Seattle in 2023 and just made his first Pro Bowl. At this point, frankly, I'll be surprised if Egbuka doesn't go in the first.

Pelissero said it himself there: I'll be surprised if Egbuka doesn't go in the first round.

Yeah, me, too.

In four seasons at Ohio State, Egbuka collected a school-record 205 receptions for 2.868 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 24 times for 145 yards and two scores while showing off his talents as a kick returner and punt returner.

Given Ohio State's status as Wide Receiver U and the school's recent run of first-round wide receivers – Garrett Wilson (2022), Chris Olave (2022), JSN (2023) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024) – someone will select Egbuka in the opening 32 picks. I guarantee it.

(Oh, and FWIW, Pelissero also named Tyleik Williams as a potential surprise first-round pick. That I agree with.)

 GOOD GUY, EMEKA EGBUKA. Before Egbuka traveled back to Seattle this week, he visited Heat Archive to offload some shoes.

Rather than accept cash or store credit for his premium footwear, Egbuka donated $350 in store credit for the next few middle or high schoolers to receive a pair of shoes for free. (The store owner matched Egbuka's donation, increasing the pot to $700.)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Heat Archive (@heat_archive)

Egbuka is a class act!

 "JACK SAWYER IS UNBELIEVABLE!" Jack Sawyer has the name of a legend. According to ESPN's Peter Schrager, Sawyer has proved himself to be a superstar on the field (see: the Cotton Bowl scoop-and-score) and off the field.

Schrager's correct.

Jack Sawyer is unbelievable!

 OH NO, IT'S A CAVALANCHE! Ohioans Tegra Tshabola, Luke Montgomery, Devontae Armstrong and Deontae Armstrong helped set the tone for the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 1 win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs.

I don't know what those Buckeyes did, but I have to credit them for Playoff Ty Jerome™.

The former Virginia national champion and current NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate made 10 of 15 shots (4 of 6 from behind the arc) to score 28 points with six assists, two rebounds and two blocks for the Cavs. That said, I hope Tshabola, Montgomery and the Armstrong brothers are free on Wednesday. I'd like to see Jerome have an encore performance!

 HISTORY MADE. Seeing Ohio State men's lacrosse clinch a Big Ten championship?

I don't know – that's worth at least $6.

Seeing Ohio State men's lacrosse clinch a Big Ten championship with a win over Michigan?

That's priceless.

Cheers, Buckeyes.

 COME ON, SOMEBODY! Speaking of Ohio State beating Michigan, the Buckeye softball team swept the Wolverines for the first time ever this weekend.

Kirin Kumar, YOU are one of the best in the business.

 ANOTHER BOOOOOOM. Days after Ohio State wrestling landed a commitment from former Iowa State wrestler Cody Chittum, the Buckeyes added another transfer on Easter Sunday: Oregon State All-American Ethan Stiles.

A former top recruit in the 2023 class, Stiles signed with Nebraska out of high school and collected a 15-3 record as a freshman. Since most of his matches came unattached from the program, Stiles received a redshirt before transferring to Oregon State, where he recorded a 17-8 and finished as an NCAA All-American at 149 pounds.

Stiles will replace Dylan D'Emilio in Columbus. The Ohio State graduate defeated Stiles in the 2025 NCAA Championships en route to his second All-American accolade with the Buckeyes.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Numb/Encore" - Linkin Park and Jay-Z.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon alongside flesh-and-blood competitors... Sweets from the sky! A helicopter marshmallow drop thrills kids in suburban Detroit... You're probably taking over-the-counter painkillers incorrectly...  Burglars cut alarms and cameras before downtown L.A. jewelry heist... Golden retriever energy, but the energy keeps increasing.

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