Welcome to the Skull Session.
All work. No play.
THE Pads are pic.twitter.com/PUXpYVy5Wq
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 2, 2025
Have a good Monday.
GOT STANDOUTS? I watched three Ohio State practices last week. Here are three standouts from those sessions:
Beau Atkinson
Last week, I mentioned that Beau Atkinson reminds me of Jack Sawyer. It starts with their size, as Atkinson checks in at 6-foot-6, 258 pounds (even after dropping 12 pounds this summer), while Sawyer stands at 6-foot-4, 260. What’s more, both defensive ends rely on bull rushes and raw power to beat their blockers, and Atkinson showed plenty of that on Saturday. One rep stood out: During team drills, Atkinson drove Philip Daniels back 5 yards and nearly sent the Minnesota transfer into the quarterback. The two exchanged words — and a few shoves — afterward, which I loved to see. Iron sharpens iron, and through his first three Ohio State practices, Atkinson looks like he’s sharpening fast.
“Coming into Ohio State, he wants to prove himself,” Ryan Day said Thursday. “I think a lot of guys are this way; they want to prove themselves at Ohio State because they feel like if they make it here, they can make it anywhere. I think he’s had that mindset coming in. His teammates have really rallied around him.”
Austin Siereveld
You know that Zac Brown Band lyric, You got whatever it is? That’s what I think about when I hear Ohio State coaches talk about Siereveld. A multi-game starter and yearlong contributor last season, Siereveld had one of the best offseasons on the team, joining Jeremiah Smith and Sonny Styles and the program’s only multi-time Iron Buckeyes in 2025.
“Austin was an Iron Buckeye, and he had a tremendous offseason,” Day said Thursday. “He’s taken all the strides you need to solidify yourself as a starter.”
“Austin has always had a good demeanor about him, and I think he’s elevated that even more,” Brian Hartline added Friday. “It feels like there’s been a lot of belief that he’s instilled in himself. He’s just been really impressive. He’s one of those guys, in my opinion, that you just don’t talk about a lot because he does everything right.
“When you’re playing O-line, you’re always at the point of attack, so it’s easy to get exposed. If people are talking about you a lot, it’s usually not a good thing. Austin is the complete opposite… he just does his job at a high level, and I expect that to continue. I expect that to develop into a leadership role — which we already feel — and (see him) be a mainstay in bringing along that O-line group, which we’re excited about. Austin’s a big part of that.”
Julian Sayin
Remember when Jeremiah Smith vowed to The Athletic’s Manny Navarro that he would never lose to Michigan again? In that same interview, he praised Julian Sayin and said, “That arm is different. He can make any and every throw.”
As I watched Ohio State’s quarterbacks complete passes to wide receivers on Saturday, I understood what Smith meant. Sayin’s arm is different.
While Lincoln Kienholz had some good throws and bad throws, Sayin consistently put the ball on the money with one of the tightest spirals I’ve seen — I mean, he had more spin than James Karinchak before the MLB cracked down on Spider Tack and Elmer’s Glue (this is an incredibly niche reference, but I hope to make fellow Cleveland baseball fans laugh).
Considering Kienholz was an Iron Buckeye this summer and had decent performances in Ohio State’s first three practices, I’m not ready to crown Sayin as the starter — and I don’t think Day is, either. Still, with how much more acclimated and comfortable Sayin can become over the next few weeks, it’s hard to imagine him not being the Buckeyes’ QB1 in the season opener against Texas.
ONE-HANDED CATCHES ARE BACK. Jeremiah Smith was another standout from Ohio State’s first three practices.
Duh.
pic.twitter.com/XOz0jHhro8 https://t.co/jzfuvMIwMR
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) August 2, 2025
Ohio State’s creative team cut that video just before Smith launched the football 50 yards toward the end zone. It was one of the best moments, if not the best moment, of the entire practice on Saturday. A close second was when Anthony “Turbo” Rogers fumbled and Carlos Locklyn did push-ups while Rogers ran a lap around the field.
“IT’S GONNA BE SCARY THIS YEAR.” Smith made several one-handed catches amid a season in which he had 76 catches for 1,315 yards and 16 total touchdowns as the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. He had five catches for 88 yards and one score while leading Ohio State to its ninth national championship in 2024.
Despite one of the best seasons ever for a college football freshman — believe it or not — Smith can improve entering his sophomore season. He said Friday that it all has to do with his mental approach to the game.
“Last year, in certain games, I hesitated doing certain things. Not really, you know, going full speed,” he said.
Run the tape from last season, and you’ll see what Smith means. Against Marshall, Smith ran a go-route at half speed, leading to a Will Howard interception. Against Penn State a few weeks later, he slowed down on a similar route concept, and Howard overthrew him.
By no means do moments such as those spoil Smith’s phenomenal season, but as he looks to become a Heisman Trophy winner and lead the Buckeyes to back-to-back national championships, receptions like those could make the difference.
“This year, I know what to expect and know how to do it,” Smith said. “It’s gonna be scary this year, for sure.”
TIME TO GO 3-FOR-3. The Eleven Warriors staff has another big announcement: On Thursday, 12th Warriors will have the chance to go behind the scenes with an Ohio State legend as we continue the 12th Warrior Happy Hour, an exclusive new series where members of our selfless perks program have direct access to Buckeye greats in a live, exclusive Q&A.
Following Andy Katzenmoyer and J.K. Dobbins, Maurice Clarett headlines our third Happy Hour. The national champion running back will join us at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
During the relaxed, interactive experience, 12th Warriors will hear untold stories, have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with Ohio State history like never before. It's our way of saying thank you for backing independent coverage, representing 11W and being like the great state of Ohio — The Heart of It All.
So, 12th Warriors, select a drink of choice, log on and let’s make some memories. We'll share further details in the Premium Lounge.
Not a 12th Warrior?
It's a great time to join.
For $85 a year (just 23 cents a day), you can join a selfless perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all, by paying it forward. Membership includes perks like admission to 12th Warrior Happy Hour, a voucher for $40 off a purchase from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the fabled Premium Lounge and more.
Want to chat with Clarett, help the site and score other perks? Sign up to become a 12th Warrior!
BEFORE I LEAVE YOU. Before the Skull Session ends, allow me to direct your attention to one more item of business: This week, Eleven Warriors will launch the rebranded Eleven Dubcast.
Chase, what will that look like?
Well, I'm glad you asked!
The Eleven Dubcast is shifting from a weekly podcast into a daily video series delivering the latest news and updates on Ohio State athletics. Each episode will post Monday through Friday at 5 a.m., giving Buckeye fans a consistent, fast and informative way to stay in the loop every morning. George Eisner will serve as the show’s lead host, joined by a rotating cast of familiar faces from the Eleven Warriors staff. Whether it’s breaking news, game previews, player updates or press conference takeaways, the new Dubcast will keep you covered five days a week.
In the debut episode, Eisner and Dan Hope break down Hope's newest Ohio State depth chart projection – which will be posted on this site later this morning – featuring Julian Sayin as the starting quarterback, Austin Siereveld as the starting right tackle and Jaylen McClain as the starting strong safety.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Whatever It Is" - Zac Brown Band.
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