Welcome to the Skull Session.
I'm back from vacation, which included a trip to the U.S. Open!
J.J. Spaun!
WHAT A PUTT!!!!
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2025
J.J. SPAUN WINS THE U.S. OPEN!!!! pic.twitter.com/EWdYQeDAzF
Have a good Monday.
“THEY’VE CHANGED MY LIFE.” Will Howard is a real one.
Before he covered Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork’s press conference at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, 10TV’s Adam King shared some of the building’s new pictures and quotes on social media. One of them was from national champion quarterback Will Howard:
New Will Howard quote that will greet players at the Woody.
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) June 12, 2025
"They've changed my life in more ways than I can say, man. Coach Day and these guys here have completely changed my life. I've been developed here like I've never been developed before."
-Will Howard pic.twitter.com/f6znaSEST9
New rule: All of Ohio State’s tours for official and unofficial visitors must include a moment for the prospect to see Howard’s quote. It’s incredible – and accurate, I’m sure!
Howard was in Columbus this past weekend for a youth football camp at Pickerington North High School, a place Howard hilariously called “the land Jack Sawyer graced” in an interview with 10TV’s Nicole Shearin.
“It’s good to be back here. Back in Columbus, Pickerington North,” Howard told Shearin. “Obviously heard a lot about that from my buddy Jack. It’s always great to be back here and give back to the community. Just to be out here with Buckeye Nation and some of these kids. I’ve always wanted to have an impact on kids like I was impacted when I was their age.”
He continued: “I love this place. I was only here for one year, but this is a place that I’m gonna call home forever.”
We hope you do, Will.
We hope you do.
“WILL’S A GOOD KID.” Before Howard held his youth camp in Columbus, he spent all of last week with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp. The 42-year-old signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on June 5 and expects to lead a quarterback room that features Howard, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson.
Howard told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor his first impression of Rodgers was great.
“He is a great mentor. He’s already treated me with the utmost respect and just been really good to me,” Howard said. “And a guy like that, he doesn’t have to do that. I really just appreciate him being willing to take me under his wing a little bit and give me pointers and tips here and there. There are already some things that he’s said to me that have helped me.”
Joey Porter Jr., Broderick Jones, Derrick Harmon and Will Howard spoke to the media after Thursday's practice: pic.twitter.com/3nVZcvkQ6c
— Steelers Live (@SteelersLive) June 12, 2025
Howard said Rodgers has told him not to get too wide at the top of his five-step drop, as it causes him to lose power in his throws.
Rodgers told Pryor he will share more advice when possible.
“I just want to be a servant leader here,” Rodgers said, “and just pass on the knowledge that I have for 20 years, the experience, and just try and fit in with the guys, get to know ‘em, let them get to know me and just enjoy the process.”
Oh, and Rodgers’ first impression of Howard?
Pretty good.
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.
“Will’s a good kid. Thought he looked good today,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “I’m gonna be with him every single day and every single meeting. … I’m gonna help him as much as I can.”
QB Aaron Rodgers speaks to the media after his first practice as a Steeler. https://t.co/I4vGWZ8Jqq
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 10, 2025
“I’M ALL-IN ON TATE.” An Ohio State wide receiver has been selected in the first round in four consecutive NFL drafts: Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2022, Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023, Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024 and Emeka Egbuka in 2025.
Carnell Tate will look to make it five consecutive drafts in 2026, and according to one NFL East regional scout, Tate has a great chance to do it.
“I’m all-in on Tate,” the scout told ESPN’s Matt Miller. “He’s big, but his technical ability as a route runner is impressive. He’s really good at generating separation with his size and his start-stop ability. He’s a really good WR2 in the pros.”
Tate only has 70 receptions for 997 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons with the Buckeyes, but I think we can expect to see more production from him when he elevates to Ohio State’s WR2 behind Jeremiah Smith in 2025. Should that production come, we could soon talk about Ohio State’s run of first-round receivers like LeBron talked about Miami Heat championships…
Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven…
DÉJÀ VU? Wait, Henry Kaczmar pulled a Meechie Johnson.
An Ohio State infielder in 2023 and 2024, Kaczmar transferred to South Carolina for 2025. Last week, the Bath, Ohio, native announced he’ll return to Columbus for his senior year, just like Johnson did following back-to-back seasons with the Gamecocks.
To complete his Johnson Arc, Kaczmar will need to transfer back to South Carolina in 2027. I hope he doesn’t, as the Ohio State baseball team, which went (yikes!) 13-37 this past season, could use someone like Kaczmar, who's a career .309 hitter with 190 hits, 27 doubles, 20 home runs and 110 RBIs.
What do I hope for, however? That Air Noland transfers back to Ohio State, or – and this feels far more possible – Keenan Nelson Jr. transfers back to South Carolina. Let’s keep this Buckeye-Gamecock carousel moving!
SONG OF THE DAY. "Father and Son" - Yusuf/Cat Stevens.
CUT TO THE CHASE. Jon Rothstein only finds joy in college basketball (he posted this minutes after J.J. Spaun's putt)... Nationals’ bat-retrieving dog Bruce laps up pregame attention, makes MLB debut... Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high Colorado helicopter rescues... White shirts. Black ties. Bald caps. Pitbull’s fans party like clones worldwide.
