Welcome to the Skull Session.
Will Lathan Ransom be one of the steals of the draft?
I think yes.
Lathan Ransom pic.twitter.com/qKOvxSZd25
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 22, 2025
Have a good Friday.
THE BEST OF THE BEST. This week, six ESPN college football staff writers (Bill Connelly, David Hale, Adam Rittenberg, Chris Low, Jake Trotter and Paulo Uggetti) compiled a list of the top 100 college football players entering the 2025 season using “some variation of hard data and guesswork” and “then debated, refined and adjusted until coming to an agreement — or, perhaps, just giving up — on an official ranking.”
Five Buckeyes appeared on ESPN’s top 100 list, starting with Jeremiah Smith at No. 1 overall.
No. 1 - Jeremiah Smith
WR, Ohio State, sophomore
2024 stats: 76 receptions, 1,315 yards, 16 TD
2024 postseason ranking: 5Arguably the best player in college football, Smith broke the Big Ten freshman record with 1,315 receiving yards during Ohio State's 2024 national championship campaign. He also totaled five touchdowns in the Buckeyes' four playoff outings. With a season of experience behind him, Smith said he expects to play even faster this year. That's a scary proposition for the rest of the Big Ten. — Jake Trotter
No. 3 - Caleb Downs
S, Ohio State, junior
2024 stats: 81 tackles, 2 INT, 6 PD
2024 postseason ranking: 18Downs was a major reason the Buckeyes featured the top defense in the country in 2024. Playing shallow safety, he locked up the middle of the field for Ohio State, which didn't allow more than 23 points the rest of the way after giving up 32 in an Oct. 12 loss at Oregon. Downs, also an electric returner, took a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in a key late-season win over Indiana. There isn't a more accomplished defensive player in college football entering this campaign. — Jake Trotter
No. 62 - Sonny Styles
LB, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 100 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6 sacks
2024 postseason ranking: NRThe 6-4, 235-pound converted safety proved he's one of the Big Ten's best defensive playmakers in 2024, earning second-team all-conference honors as the leading tackler for the national champs, with big performances in some of the Buckeyes' biggest games, including a career-high nine stops against Oregon, Penn State and Texas. He's a 28-game starter and an invaluable leader with impressive traits and first-round pick potential. — Max Olson
No. 67 - Carnell Tate
WR, Ohio State, senior
2024 stats: 733 yards, 4 TD, 52 receptions
2024 postseason ranking: NREven though Jeremiah Smith will understandably take up much attention this season, don't sleep on Tate. The 6-3, 191-pound wideout from Chicago had a strong season inside of Ohio State's title-winning offense last year, and even though Will Howard is gone, Tate should be able to build on his 2024 campaign. — Paulo Uggetti
No. 75 - Max Klare
TE, Ohio State, junior
2024 stats: 1 reception, 685 yards, 4 TD
2024 postseason ranking: NRAt 6-4 and 236 pounds, you won't miss Klare on the field, and for whoever does line up under center for the Buckeyes, Klare will quickly become a favorite target. The junior had a breakout season last year, and there's a sense that this season could be even bigger for the Purdue product. — Paulo Uggetti
Anthony Hill Jr. ranked above Caleb Downs?
Ahahahahahaha.
Oh, and Carnell Tate is a… senior? And Max Klare had one catch for 685 yards and four touchdowns last season?!
My message to ESPN’s college football staff:
OSU → NFLU. This week, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler revealed his NFL draft 2026 rankings. Following a summer of positional rankings that featured 414 draft-eligible players, Brugler narrowed those lists down to the top 50 prospects available. Four of those prospects were Buckeyes.
No. 4 - Caleb Downs
It would be easy to argue that Downs is the best all-around football player in the 2026 NFL Draft class. However, he still may be drafted outside the top 10 (like Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick) because of the way the NFL values his position in the draft. Over the last 15 years, only one safety (Jamal Adams) was selected in the top 10 — and Downs doesn’t have elite size or speed to get a testing bump during the process. With his scheme-proof talent, though, he will be universally liked by scouts and coaches.
No. 24 - Sonny Styles
Styles checks a lot of boxes that will be scouting catnip for NFL teams. A former five-star recruit, he is a 20-year-old senior with rare physical traits and the son of a former Super Bowl champion linebacker. On top of his freaky tools, he was voted an “Iron Buckeye” this spring for his training and discipline, and one member of Ohio State’s staff told me Styles is “one of the best leaders in the program.”
He isn’t quite the speed demon that Isaiah Simmons was coming out of Clemson, but there are certainly similarities between the two as former safeties and rare size-speed athletes. Simmons has struggled to become a consistent NFL starter, but he was a top-10 draft pick because the NFL will always bet on athletic traits. Styles has a chance to be a first-round pick for the same reasons.
No. 31 - Carnell Tate
A top Chicago recruit by way of IMG Academy, Tate was the fourth receiver (behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming) in 2023, and the third option (behind Jeremiah Smith and Egbuka) in 2024. Tate finished his sophomore year with 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns.
Ohio State is breaking in a first-year quarterback and play caller in 2025 and has to replace several established starters from last year’s national title-winning squad. But the Buckeyes have arguably the top receiving duo in college football, and Tate will be a crucial weapon as defenses attempt to limit Smith. He enters the season as more of a Day 2 draft pick, but with the chance to rise.
No. 37 - Max Klare
The Buckeyes haven’t had a tight end selected in the first two rounds in 30 years (Rickey Dudley, No. 9 in 1996). Klare has the talent to change that and become a top-60 pick. Everyone is familiar with Jeremiah Smith and the potential of the receivers in Columbus. Still, Klare might be the key to unlocking Ohio State’s offense, especially with a first-year starter at quarterback. Klare led the Boilermakers in receiving last season (by a large margin), and there was still a lot of meat left on the bone in that offense. There will be more mouths to feed in the Buckeyes’ offense, but Klare will be in a better situation to allow his talent to shine.
Despite all the talent Ohio State lost from last season — 14 Buckeyes were selected in the 2025 NFL draft, and three more signed UDFA contracts — no team has more players in Brugler’s top 50 prospects than Ohio State (four). Auburn, Clemson, Oregon, Penn State and Texas each had three players, while Alabama, Georgia, LSU and USC each had two.
Shoutout Ryan Day and Mark Pantoni for the embarrassment of riches Ohio State produces season after season, year after year.
Ohio State is NFLU!
ALWAYS SONNY IN DETROIT? As Brugler revealed his top prospects this week, ESPN’s Field Yates also shared his first mock draft for 2026. In an exercise that included a pair of early trades and six quarterbacks selected across 32 picks, Fields had two Buckyes come off the board in round one: Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles.
No. 5 - Caleb Downs to the Tennessee Titans
It's not often a safety generates top-five consideration, which is a testament to Downs' skill set. He is a no-weakness prospect who brings a physical and imposing demeanor when playing in the box and defending the run. But Downs also boasts excellent range, ball skills (two INTs and seven pass breakups in 2024) and vision as a middle-of-the-field pass defender. He has the ability to entirely reshape a secondary from the moment he steps on the field. Tennessee is looking for cornerstone players, and its defense ranked 30th in points allowed per game last season (27.1). Downs would instantly alter the outlook.
No. 29 - Sonny Styles to the Detroit Lions
Detroit could probably go a few different directions here, but addressing the defense makes a lot of sense. The Lions took a linebacker in the first round in 2023 (Jack Campbell), and they could go back to that well in 2026. Alex Anzalone will be a free agent in March, potentially opening up a spot at the position.
Versatility, communicator and athleticism — those are some words that initially come to mind when scouting Styles, who began his OSU career at safety before moving to linebacker full time in 2024. It almost looks like he's gliding on the field because he moves so gracefully, which helped him pile up 98 tackles and six sacks in 2024.
Man, Styles to the Lions would make perfect sense. At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, Styles is built like a linebacker but moves like a defensive back, the kind of versatility Dan Campbell craves in Detroit’s defense. He can play in the box, cover a tight end, rush the passer or drop into zone, and he does it all with an edge the Lions thrive on. His leadership is another selling point, as Styles received Ohio State’s Block O this season for his accountability, toughness and fight.
What’s more, Ohio State legend Chris Spielman — one of the toughest linebackers to ever wear scarlet and gray — has influence in Detroit’s front office as a special assistant to the owner and CEO. If anyone in the building would pound the table for a Buckeye linebacker with size, speed, versatility and leadership chops, it’s Spielman.
THE BROTHERHOOD IS REAL. Justin Fields and Garrett Wilson’s friendship makes me happy. That is all.
.@GarrettWilson_V and @justnfields ... in sync since Day 1 at @OhioStateFB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 19, 2025
(s/o Garrett's dad, too) pic.twitter.com/3pNVwoxorQ
DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast brings on Dan Hope to offer an early look at the soon-to-be released first edition of 11W's list of "The Buckeye 20" power rankings for the upcoming 2025-26 football season.
SONG OF THE DAY. “The Show Goes On” - Lupe Fiasco.
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