Welcome to Skull Session.
Chase is off this week, so I'm here to fill in as your Skull Session writer for the next few days.
Let's all have the best Monday we can.
“I CAN'T WAIT TO PROVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WRONG.” After 14 of Ohio State's starters from its 2024 national championship team were selected in the 2025 NFL draft and three more were signed as undrafted free agents, many are doubting whether the Buckeyes have a complete enough roster to repeat. Jeremiah Smith is not one of those people.
In an interview with 10TV's Adam King, the superstar sophomore wide receiver said OSU is going to "put on a show" once the season gets going.
"I just can't wait until the season starts. We're definitely gonna put on a show," Smith said. "A lot of people are doubting us, I've been seeing on Twitter and social media. So I can't wait to prove a lot of people wrong this year."
"We're gonna put on a show, a lot of people have been doubting us... I can't wait to prove a lot of people wrong this year"
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) July 13, 2025
Jeremiah Smith says the team is working harder in the weight room. He says they've been pushed hard with guys growing into their new roles. pic.twitter.com/lQ8al97DSd
Smith is certainly a reason for confidence in Ohio State, a likely Heisman Trophy contender after he shattered all of the Buckeyes' freshman receiving records with 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Ever mature in interviews, Smith began to let his trademark South Floridian confidence show through as the year went on.
That confidence extends not just to his abilities, but to those of his team. Before putting their doubters on notice with King this weekend, he promised that he'd never lose to Michigan again in an interview two weeks ago. The intensity of this offseason's workouts has only aided Smith's assurance.
"We've put in a lot of work with Coach Mick (Marotti)," Smith said. "Workouts this year were harder than last year, I should say. They've been pushing us hard because it's a new team, everybody got new roles."
RIMINGTONS ON RIMINGTONS ON RIMINGTONS. Ohio State's center, Seth McLaughlin, won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football last season. It's the fourth Rimington a Buckeye has won since the award was established in 2000, the most of any school.
Redshirt junior Carson Hinzman took over for McLaughlin at the position after the latter's season-ending Achilles rupture last season and has 21 starts of experience, 18 of them at center, after starting as a redshirt freshman at the spot in 2023. He learned from the Buckeyes' most recent Rimington winner last year – McLaughlin was nicknamed "Coach Seth" for how much he helped Ohio State's offensive line after his injury – and this offseason, he's learning from its oldest.
LeCharles Bentley, who won the Rimington Trophy with the Buckeyes in 2001, is doing some highly specialized work with Hinzman this summer. And talking up Ohio State's legacy of centers.
.@OhioStateFB holds a legacy of elite Center play. Just in the last 25yrs, 4 @rimingtontrophy winners (should be 5 with Nick Mangold). The last 5 HCs had at least one all-conference C that played in the NFL (Bruce, Cooper, Tressel, Meyer, Day). Thats a span of 4 DECADES #AMDG pic.twitter.com/zfBMUfqdXk
— LeCharles Bentley (@64AMDG) July 8, 2025
Pat Elflein and Billy Price picked up the Buckeyes' second and third Rimingtons between Bentley and McLaughlin, doing so in back-to-back years, 2016 and 2017. As Bentley pointed out, Nick Mangold could have been a fifth, a first-team All-American in 2005 who made seven Pro Bowls playing for the New York Jets in the NFL.
Hinzman will need to level up if he's to contend for a Rimington Trophy in 2025, but working with Bentley is a way to do that. If nothing else, he's an experienced anchor to what could be a fantastic front five for the Buckeyes this year.
BUCKS IN BASEBALL. Baseball was my first love as a child, and while my passion for football outgrew it by high school, I've written too many Skull Sessions without including some baseball #content.
The All-Star break for the MLB starts today, which is always perfect timing to check the progress of a player. Three former Ohio State players have played Big League ball this year, so here is a brief update on each of them.
Dillon Dingler, C, Detroit Tigers
This is Dingler's true rookie year after playing just 27 games in 2024, and he's emerged as Detroit's everyday catcher with an exceptionally productive first half. In 71 games, Dingler has batted .265 with eight dingers and 36 runs batted in. Defensively, he's caught 15 of the 45 runners who have attempted a steal against him, a rate of 33.3%, well above the MLB average of 22.3%.
Dominic Canzone, OF, Seattle Mariners
After a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw him hit below the Mendoza line at .196, Canzone worked his way back to the big leagues with an impressive 45 games at AAA Tacoma, where he hit .296 with 13 home runs and 36 RBI. In his 27 games since being called back up in June, he's batting a blazing .345 with six home runs and 10 RBI.
Zach Dezenzo, OF, Houston Astros
Dezenzo was off to a solid start in his first full big league season, batting .245 with 10 RBI through 34 games, but a hand injury has kept him sidelined since May 31. He's currently on Houston's 60-day injured list, where he'll remain until August at the earliest.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Grindin'" - Clipse. I've seen this one live. It's a must after Pusha T and Malice reunited last week for their first album in 16 years.
AROUND THE WEB WITH ANDY. Own a piece of Mars! It's up for auction in New York... A beetle infestation is threatening Hungary's oldest library... A rare pronghorn calf rescued in San Diego... A small child climbs into a claw machine.
