Skull Session: Mylan Graham Says Ohio State and Notre Dame’s Education is “Not Too Different,” Four Buckeyes Go Top 10 in The Athletic’s Latest Mock Draft and Jeremiah Smith is One of One

By Chase Brown on February 20, 2026 at 4:56 am
Mylan Graham
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

Alexa, play Free Bird.

Have a good Friday.

 “NOT TOO DIFFERENT.” There’s a lot I don’t understand about this life. One of those things is this: why is Notre Dame so obnoxious about its academics? (The words “about its academics” in the previous sentence are optional.)

You’ll remember in summer 2022 when former Ohio State linebacker and current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told CBS Sports, “If you don’t go to class (at a place like Ohio State), OK, take some online classes, show up for your appointments. At Notre Dame, you’re forced every day to go to class.” 

Freeman later walked back the comments in an interview with 97.1 The Fan, explaining that he would “never discredit the quality of education” at his alma mater.

“I was talking about if you don’t go to class at these big schools that have 60,000 or 40,000 students, OK, you can take online classes. We can’t,” Freeman said. “The majority of our kids cannot take online classes here because it’s a smaller school, and you’re forced to have in-class attendance. That’s what I wanted to get cleaned up.”

Three-and-a-half years after Freeman’s comments, Mylan Graham almost fell into a similar trap. In his first media appearance since he transferred from Ohio State to Notre Dame, Graham said he’s had to adjust to the academics in South Bend.

When a reporter asked what’s different between the schools, Graham wisely avoided controversy, noting that there’s not much that sets them apart.

“(They’re) not too different,” Graham said. “You just have to actually go in person. Just stuff like that. At Notre Dame, obviously everybody knows how it is with academics.”

Oh, we know, Mylan.

They’ve told us.

But we do not care.

 THE BEST OF THE BEST. This week, The Athletic released an NFL beat writer mock draft.

“While nothing absolute can be taken from mock drafts in February (or any mock draft anytime, really), they produce potential themes worth watching for, at least,” the article read.

Potential themes… like four Buckeyes coming off the board in the top 10 picks — from Arvell Reese to the New York Jets at No. 2 overall to Sonny Styles to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10. (The mock also had Davison Igbinosun going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 56, as Jacksonville does not own a first-round pick.)

No. 2 - Arvell Reese to the New York Jets

The Jets need playmakers across the board on defense. In case you haven’t heard, they set NFL records for fewest turnovers (four) and interceptions (zero) in a season. Reese can’t solve all of that, but he has Micah Parsons-esque potential as a college off-ball linebacker with the skills to be a dominant pass rusher. His ability to play at multiple spots would make him a fun chess piece for Aaron Glenn to deploy as he returns to calling plays on that side of the ball. If there was a quarterback worth taking here, the Jets would do it — but unfortunately, there isn’t. — Zack Rosenblatt

No. 5 - Caleb Downs to the New York Giants

While the Giants front office engaged in preliminary talks to move back, the other team didn’t want to part with as many picks as the Giants would’ve required. So the team stuck at No. 5 and went with, perhaps controversial to some, a safety. But there’s no regret with this choice in New York. Downs is No. 4 in Brugler’s top 100 rankings and he’s “one of the better safeties I have ever evaluated,” Brugler said. Downs’ skills are hard to pass up, especially for a Giants secondary that’s been lacking. — Charlotte Carroll 

No. 9 - Carnell Tate to the Kansas City Chiefs

A sneaky need for the Chiefs is at receiver, where they have only two players under contract beyond 2026 (Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals). This draft fell in a positive way, then, with Tate the first receiver off the board. He’s a good team fit, as well. The Chiefs typically target run-after-catch guys, but too often last year, they were in need of an outside receiver who could create route separation and be a contested-catch option. Tate — he most often draws George Pickens comps from draft analysts — would be a welcome addition for new receivers coach Chad O’Shea, while also giving Patrick Mahomes a QB-friendly option for years to come. — Jesse Newell 

No. 10 - Sonny Styles to the Cincinnati Bengals

This pick came down to Styles and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. What the Bengals do in free agency might provide the tiebreaker. Styles would be a slam dunk to drop in the middle of the defense, despite rookie linebacker issues last season. If Cincinnati handles linebacker in free agency, Delane would be the ideal pick for a team not in need of an immediate starter but grabbing the top player at a premium position. He’d provide elite depth behind DJ Turner and Dax Hill, both in the last year of their contracts and seeking extensions. Either way, the defense needs more great players and, even at a non-premium position, Styles qualifies. — Paul Dehner Jr.

No. 56 - Davison Igbinosun to the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags must address the secondary this offseason, and Igbinosun’s 6-2, 195-pound frame is ideal for an outside cornerback. He plays with a level of physicality that has exposed him to penalties, but that can be harnessed by coach Liam Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who should love the playing style. Coen also has a relationship with Ohio State coach Ryan Day, so he should be plenty familiar with the program’s draft prospects. Igbinosun should start immediately. — Jeff Howe

I have a few notes.

Reese to the Jets at No. 2 overall is becoming a near guarantee in most mock drafts. Selfishly, I hope that means Reese — like a certain can’t-miss No. 2 prospect before him — somehow falls to the fifth round for the Browns to scoop him up.

Downs to the Giants makes a ton of sense. If anyone understands how impactful a safety can be, it’s John Harbaugh, whose Baltimore Ravens selected Kyle Hamilton with the No. 14 overall pick in 2022. Hamilton has been an All-Pro in each of his first three seasons, collecting 355 tackles, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions and 36 pass breakups in 64 games. Downs is capable of similar production wherever he lands — but especially for a Giants secondary that has been lacking, as Carroll wrote for The Athletic.

Tate to the Chiefs would be unfair — great for him, terrible for fans of the NFL’s other 31 teams.

Styles to the Bengals would be awesome. I love seeing Buckeyes travel I-71 to their next homes, whether north to Cleveland or south to Cincinnati.

I also love seeing Igbinosun as a second-round pick. If he can continue to play physical without committing penalties, he could end up being one of the best value picks in the 2026 draft.

 ONE OF ONE. How good is Jeremiah Smith?

In the 11 years Pro Football Focus has graded college football players, the Ohio State star is the only wide receiver in the PFF era with 85+ grades in each of his first two seasons.

People throw around the word generational a lot these days, but Smith? He’s actually generational. I can’t wait to see what he can accomplish in Year 3!

 THIS AND THAT. Another Skull Session, another This and That.

You know the drill.

Former Ohio State men’s basketball coach Thad Matta won his 500th game on Wednesday. Soon after, Butler’s creative team posted a video to X of Matta’s former players congratulating him on the accomplishment. Many of them were Buckeyes.

Georgia players Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon became the latest Georgia football players arrested on reckless driving charges.

Buckeye Huddle’s Tony Gerdeman said it best: “I think this is Georgia’s version of having a black stripe removed.”

That’s hilarious — and accurate.

Graeter’s Ice Cream updated its pint design for its famous Buckeye Blitz flavor this week.

I could be wrong, but didn’t one of the old designs feature Brutus? This would’ve been a long, long time ago, but I have a vague memory of the mascot being part of the packaging. Let me know in the comments if that was real or something I completely made up in my head.

That's all, folks!

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Golden" - Harry Styles.

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