Welcome to the Skull Session.
Ohio State clung to life in a must-win game along the NCAA Tournament bubble line through the efforts of Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal, defeating USC 89-82. https://t.co/Ha58QLIIWk
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 12, 2026
Have a good Thursday.
HUG ME, BROTHA! After the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Jaxon Smith-Njigba found TreVeyon Henderson as the confetti flew around Levi’s Stadium. The Ohio State teammates shared a moment, congratulating each other on the success both former Buckeyes had in 2025-26.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba found TreVeyon Henderson as the confetti fell following the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win pic.twitter.com/2m9BdfMtkB
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) February 11, 2026
Remember, brothers don’t shake hands, brothers gotta hug!
FIELD MINISTER YATES’ TAKES. I know Skull Session readers have mixed opinions on the Worldwide Leader and some of its NFL draft analysts, namely veteran Mel Kiper Jr. I do, too — but I like Field Yates!
This past fall, I became addicted to fantasy football. I already was, really. But it reached a whole new level when I discovered ESPN’s Fantasy Focus Football podcast, which features Yates (known by his full name, Field Minister Yates, on the show), Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay and Stephania Bell. Yates provides data-driven, evidence-based takes, so I trust that he creates his mock drafts with the same approach.
Yates has four Buckeyes coming off the board in his second mock draft of 2026. Here’s where each of them landed:
No. 2 - Arvell Reese to the New York Jets
A quarterback is unlikely at this juncture for the Jets, who have myriad needs to address in this draft and the next, when they are flush with picks. Only the 49ers finished with fewer sacks than the Jets in 2025, so Reese could bring New York's defense significant pass-rush upside and versatility. After playing mostly inside linebacker at Ohio State prior to last season, Reese kicked out to a primary edge role in 2025 and posted 6.5 sacks. Only Will McDonald IV had a higher sack total (8) among Jets players last season. Reese has great length, a quick first step and smooth athletic movements to bend the edge around opposing tackles.
No. 5 - Caleb Downs to the New York Giants
This is my first curveball, as many early mock drafts have linked the Giants to a wide receiver or offensive tackle in this spot. Those are completely understandable, especially if Wan'Dale Robinson and/or Jermaine Eluemunor depart in free agency. But Downs has my attention as the first pick of the John Harbaugh era. Perhaps no current coach better understands the value of top-flight safety play, as Harbaugh coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore. While the Giants have starters in Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin, Downs has the upside to change an entire defense as a force multiplier with his deep range and in-the-box skills.
No. 7 - Carnell Tate to the Washington Commanders
The Commanders have made it clear that they need to get younger on defense, so a pass rusher could be tempting here. But they can't overlook their need for another receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. Tate had a fantastic 2025 season and is one of most pro-ready prospects in the class. He's a terrific route runner who makes difficult catches look routine with his awesome hands and body control. Tate averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2025 and had at least one 40-plus-yard catch in six games. That sort of field-stretching speed and tracking ability could make him an ideal option for quarterback Jayden Daniels.
No. 12 - Sonny Styles to the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas' offseason should be filled with defensive reinforcements, as the roster was imbalanced in 2025. Styles, who started as a safety at Ohio State, fits the mold of a modern NFL linebacker with his sideline-to-sideline range and ability to drop into coverage. He showed plenty of blitzing prowess in 2024 with six sacks, blending timing and instincts with his length and easy acceleration. There are few 2026 prospects with as much versatility as Styles, who played under longtime NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia this past season. New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker would love to have Styles as a building block in his scheme. After all, Dallas allowed 6.1 yards per play last season, second worst in the NFL behind the Bengals.
Yates is the first person I’ve seen project the Giants selecting Downs with the No. 5 overall pick, and his reasoning is sound. Some might argue that level of draft capital isn’t worth it for a safety, but Downs isn’t just any safety — he’s a generational talent. The mock drafts placing him outside the top 10, 12, or even 14 picks are ridiculous.
NOW THERE ARE TWO OF THEM! The Columbus Aviators signed Julian Sayin’s brother, Aidan, to a contract this week.
Two Sayin's. One city. pic.twitter.com/A8arSx4A96
— Columbus Aviators (@UFLAviators) February 11, 2026
Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope covered the logistics in an article on Wednesday. Clayton Tune signed a futures deal with an NFL team, so the Aviators brought in Sayin, a former quarterback at Penn who completed a school-record 719 passes on 1,151 attempts (62.5%) for 7,177 yards, 45 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.
Dan’s report reminded me of an article from ESPN's Jake Trotter about the H-O-R-S-E games Aidan and Julian played at Pine Park in Carlsbad, California, during their teenage years.
After drilling mechanics, dropbacks and movement throws with passing coach Jose Mohler at the park about 35 miles north of San Diego, the real competition began -- a homegrown version of quarterback HORSE. Their buddies, twins Jayven and Kiran Sandhu, ran routes while the Sayin brothers called their shots, grading each other's 10 throws. The loser picked up the tab at the smoothie shop around the corner before everyone headed home for online high school.
"We would grade very, very harshly," said Aidan, who went on to become a record-breaking quarterback at Penn. "Anything that wasn't on the face wasn't worthy of even a B-plus. You had to be super accurate."
All those morning sessions in 2020 -- when school was remote and the football season was pushed to spring -- became the foundation for Julian's precision passing, the trait that has propelled him to Heisman contention in his first season as Ohio State's starting quarterback.
"My brother, it was awesome to have him growing up as a mentor, then someone who I was competing with every day," Julian said. "I was trying to be better than him, so it was a lot of fun going to quarterback workouts with him -- and we grew up a lot [as passers] during that time."
I’m hopeful those games will now resume in Columbus — and that the Sayin brothers can continue their tradition of grabbing acai bowls afterward, too. It could be a big year for both of them, Aidan competing for the starting job in the Aviators’ inaugural season, and Julian returning to Ohio State in search of a Heisman Trophy and national championship.
WELCOME TO FLAVORTOWN. While Dan Hope and Andy Anders will break down the hard-hitting Ohio State #content from our Ross Bjork interview, I’ll take the equally important beat: where the athletic director likes to eat.
“You’re going to get me in trouble,” Bjork said when I asked him to name his favorite places to eat since he arrived in Columbus almost two years ago. “There are so many. The Avenue over there in Grandview is really good. I found that spot early on. Gallo’s in Upper Arlington is hard to beat; that’s a good meal. We’re so close to Hudson 29; that’s a good lunch spot. It’s hard to beat the wings at Roosters — I’ll give them a shout out because they are a sponsor. Gosh, you know, Plank’s Pizza, that place was really, really cool. What an old-school atmosphere. That was a fun place.”
Bjork said his list doesn’t come close to covering all the great restaurants Columbus has to offer. (I knew this because it didn’t include Wario’s Beef and Pork. Seriously, try Wario’s Beef and Pork. It will change your life.)
“I mean, Chase, like you could go to every neighborhood and find a favorite restaurant,” he said. “Those are a few off the top.”
SONG OF THE DAY. “Die With a Smile” - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.
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