Skull Session: Brian Hartline to Become USF’s Next Head Coach, Kayden McDonald Looks Like a First-Round NFL Draft Pick and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Says Ohio State’s “Job’s Still Not Finished”

By Chase Brown on December 4, 2025 at 5:00 am
Brian Hartline
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Jeremiah Smith is the best.

Have a good Thursday.

 ONE FOR THE AGES. I seldom share personal stories in the Skull Session, but I feel compelled to on this peaceful Thursday. Why is it a peaceful Thursday? Because my chaotic Wednesday is over.

Here’s all that happened after 7:12 a.m. on Wednesday, using a mix of timestamps from Ohio State’s X account and our website, which was down for a lot of the morning and afternoon… apologies:

In all, that was one of the busiest days — if not the busiest day — of my Eleven Warriors tenure. But (!) this is why we Caffeinate and Dominate! Special thanks to Celsius and Diet Coke for keeping me locked.

 THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. I don’t need to share all that Brian Hartline has done for Ohio State. As a player and as a coach, he was remarkable — or should I write, he has been remarkable. A man of character, Hartline has committed to the program through its CFP run as the Buckeyes look to win back-to-back titles for the first time. I hope Hartline ends his tenure in Columbus with another championship!

For a bit more added #content, here’s what Jeremiah Smith posted about Hartline on Wednesday:

 LET ME CELEBRATE! While Ohio State has moved on to Indiana, as it should, I have not, as is my right! In the next two sections, I have Nick Baumgardner and Dane Brugler breaking down Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Kayden McDonald's tape from The Game, and a not-so-shameless plug for some new Eleven Warriors Dry Goods shirts you need to purchase now, now, now! 

Cool? 

Cool.

 THE KAYDEN AND KENYATTA SHOW. Julian Sayin proved himself in The Game. So did all of Ohio State’s top draft prospects, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner. The headliners, however, were Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Kayden McDonald and, of course, Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles. Brugler and Baumgardner wrote about their performances and more this week.

Brugler on McDonald, Caden Curry and more

Brugler: It is hard to talk about the Ohio State defensive performance without mentioning double-digit names. But Jackson had one of his best performances at Ohio State, and it was a complete one against both the pass and the run. He undressed the left tackle multiple times as a pass rusher, resulting in a handful of pressures and a sack. And he was just as effective setting the edge and getting off blocks to make stops against the run. Jackson, a redshirt junior, will have an NFL decision to make after the season. He made my top 50 back in August, but he might return and try to build on his finish to this season. 

Reese, Downs, McDonald and Styles all played well and will be first-rounders. But I also wanted to shout out Caden Curry, one of those Ohio State seniors who was trying to beat Michigan for the first time. I could say he had a little extra motivation, but Curry always plays with his hair on fire, and that effort will help him carve out an NFL career. He is a very assignment-sound defender who doesn’t mind doing the dirty work in the trenches.

Baumgardner on Jackson, Styles and more

Baumgardner: Jackson showed up in every big game Ohio State played this season. Against Texas, Washington, Penn State and Michigan, Jackson finished with a combined 21 pressures and four sacks. At 6 feet 6 and 265 pounds, Jackson has played all over Ohio State’s front this season. Reese and McDonald are more physically imposing, but don’t sleep on Jackson as a prospect who could flirt with the top 100.

I also thought it was a very good day for Styles, who was decisive and physical with interior run fits, over and over. He is no longer a former safety trying to play linebacker. He’s the real deal inside, with elite length and speed at around 240 pounds.

This defense is full of studs. And I love what Jackson said on Wednesday: “We haven’t done nothing yet. Forget the individual awards. Whatever. We haven't done nothing yet. The job’s still not finished.” Those studs are desperate and hungry!

 BEHOLD, THE NEW ARRIVALS. Ohio State didn’t just beat Michigan; it dominated Michigan. The Buckeyes’ statement win deserves to be remembered — on your chest and in your wardrobe. The latest drop from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods brings you a lineup of tees built for fans who not only watched The Game but owned The Game.

These aren’t keepsakes or souvenirs. They are declarations.

  • Order Restored Tee: The streak is dead. The rivalry is right again. With a crisp 60/40 poly-cotton build and a fit that flatters, this tee is your badge of retribution and pride. Wear it like you already won.
  • Hold This L Tee: The game demands a winner. And an L to hold. Sharp, confident, and unapologetic, this tee captures that victorious swagger — made to feel as good as the payoff.
  • Fun Is Kicking Ass Tee: No speeches needed. No slogans required. Just this: domi­nation. When you’re out to prove a point, this tee delivers the attitude before the first whistle.
  • They Prayed For Snow Tee: They asked for snow. They got buried instead. A tri-blend texture that drapes with swagger, this tee is a cold reminder: when you’re built for any weather, nothing slows you down.

Designed and printed in Columbus, built to last, and tailored for those who carry the legacy forward, every tee hits as hard as Arvell Reese. Whether you're walking into Lucas Oil Stadium for the Big Ten Championship Game, heading out with the crew, or just repping the culture around town, this lineup speaks louder than any O-H-I-O chant — well, maybe not the one heard in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, but you know what we mean!

 DAILY DUBCAST. Today's Eleven Dubcast welcomes back Andy Anders to discuss the impending departure of Brian Hartline from the Ohio State football staff following the College Football Playoff and the long-term impact it could have on future Buckeye wide receivers.

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Enter Sandman" - Metallica.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Decades-old palm trees in Rio de Janeiro flower for the first — and only — time... New Zealand man accused of eating Faberge pendant inspired by Bond movie as police wait for evidence... It’s time to unpack Spotify Wrapped... Penn State's search has netted other coaches an estimated $370.8M in extension money... Chiefs-Cowboys drew a historic viewership on Thanksgiving.

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