Skull Session: Jake Diebler Owns Purdue, Kennedy Cambridge is a Legitimate Defensive Player of the Year Candidate and the Styles Brothers Dominate the NFL Combine

By Chase Brown on March 2, 2026 at 4:59 am
Jake Diebler
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
5 Comments

Welcome to the Skull Session.

A Rapid Fire Skull Session.

I'm your Huckleberry.

Have a good Monday.

 STAYIN’ ALIVE. Ohio State’s NCAA Tournament hopes are still alive.

In a win that improved Jake Diebler’s record against perennial top-10 team Purdue to 3-0, Bruce Thornton (20 points, five rebounds), John Mobley Jr. (21 points, five made 3s) and Devin Royal (12 points, nine rebounds) led Ohio State to a postseason-resurrecting 82-74 victory over the No. 8-ranked Boilermakers.

While Thornton, Mobley and Royal are often Ohio State’s top contributors — and by often, I mean usually the only ones — the Buckeyes’ Big Three received much-needed support from Amare Bynum (14 points, five rebounds) and Christoph Tilly (seven points, five rebounds).

Diebler shortened his rotation to Ivan Njegovan (two points, six rebounds), Gabe Cupps (one personal foul away from an 8 trillion) and Taison Chatman (six points), as neither Puff Johnson nor Colin White saw the floor.

This was a massive game for Diebler and the Buckeyes. Two years ago, a win over No. 2 Purdue served as the catalyst for Diebler earning the job. Now, a victory over the No. 8 Boilermakers could spark an NCAA Tournament run.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. 

Ohio State still has work to do. The Buckeyes must handle business Wednesday at Penn State, which knocked off Iowa 71-69 at home over the weekend. Then they’ll need to beat NCAA Tournament hopeful Indiana in the regular-season finale and make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament.

The opportunity is there. Now they have to seize it.

 NEVER SUCH DEVOTED SISTERS. The Ohio State women’s basketball team also earned a vital win over a ranked opponent on Sunday, defeating No. 15 Michigan State to snap a three-game skid and finish the regular season on a high note.

Jaloni Cambridge (33 points, seven 3-pointers) once again led the Buckeyes, as she so often does. While I could spend this entire section praising her performance — both against the Spartans and throughout the season — I’ll instead shift the spotlight to her sister, Kennedy, who has put the clamps on nearly every player she’s faced this year.

Cambridge recorded five steals against Michigan State, pushing her season total to a program-record 120 in a single season.

She also filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the win. Four of those rebounds came on the offensive glass, helping fuel Ohio State’s 22 second-chance points.

Ohio State now enters the Big Ten Tournament at 24-6 overall and 13-5 in conference competition. The Buckeyes tied Minnesota (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) for fourth in the league standings, behind UCLA (27-1, 17-0), Michigan (24-5, 15-3) and Iowa (24-5, 15-3).

The Buckeyes will need both Cambridge sisters at their best in Indianapolis — and then, of course, in the NCAA Tournament. No one in Columbus wants to see a third straight second-round exit in the Big Dance. Not one.

 ALWAYS SONNY IN INDIANAPOLIS. Sonny Styles is the same height as Calvin Johnson (6-foot-5), three pounds lighter than Derrick Henry (244), jumps as high as Nate Robinson (43.5”), runs the same speed as Bijan Robinson (4.46) and leaps the same distance as Julio Jones (135”).

Those measurables made him, one, the talk of the NFL Scouting Combine and, two, earned him a perfect Relative Athletic Score. According to Yahoo Sports, Styles is the first linebacker to post a perfect 10.00 RAS since 2022.

Players who scored a 10.00 RAS score in 2025 were NFL Rookie of the Year finalist Nick Emmanwori and (close your eyes, Bengals fans) Shemar Stewart.

By the looks of it, Styles has a 50% chance to be great as a rookie.

Not bad!

 ALL IN THE FAMILY. Sonny Styles is great. So is his brother, Lorenzo.

In a Wednesday interview at the NFL Combine, Sonny told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and persona non grata Chris Simms that his brother was one of the fastest players on Ohio State’s roster, frequently competing with known specimen Jeremiah Smith to finish first in team sprints.

Sonny’s comments were flattery for his brother. No, it was God’s honest truth. Lorenzo proved it on Friday when he ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, becoming the fastest Buckeye in NFL Combine history. Styles’ time was also tied for the ninth-fastest all-time until Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson ran a 4.26-second 40 on Saturday.

Zo was zooooooming.

 TRY THIS ONE SOMETIME. Carnell Tate ran a surprisingly slow 4.52-second 40 on Saturday. Not that 4.52 seconds is slow — it’s faster than, I don’t know, 99% of the planet? — but it felt slow for an athlete of Tate’s caliber.

However, if ESPN’s Adam Schefter is to be believed, several NFL executives and general managers clocked Tate’s 40 time between 4.45 and 4.47 seconds.

Even if Tate’s 40 remains in the 4.5 range, who cares? The two best receivers in the NFL last year were Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, both of whom ran 4.5s. Tate is a smooth route runner who creates elite separation and hauls in contested passes like no other. He’ll be just fine at the next level—I have no doubt about it.

Oh, and one more thing. If the police ever pull you over for speeding, try this excuse out:

Let’s be real, we all speed, some of us just get caught — we all may need to use this excuse someday!

 MEET GENNINGS DUNKER. I have one more section about the NFL Combine, but it’s not about a Buckeye; it’s about former Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker.

That man has aura.

See what I mean?

 THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE! Zooming out from Ohio State for a moment: Blue Jackets star and Olympic gold medalist Zach Werenski returned to Columbus on Saturday — and CBJ fans made sure his homecoming was unforgettable.

That’s how it’s done!

Let’s go, Z!

 HOLY BUCKEYE. Eleven Warriors 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 series where members of our perks program have direct access to Buckeye greats in a live, exclusive Q&A.

12th Warrior Happy Hour

Following Andy Katzenmoyer, J.K. Dobbins and Maurice Clarett, Michael Jenkins headlines our fourth Happy Hour. The national champion wide receiver will join us virtually at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.

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 perks program designed to flip the paywall system, keeping our coverage free for all, by paying it forward. Membership perks include admission to our 12th Warrior Happy Hours, a $40 voucher to Eleven Warriors Dry Goods, access to the Premium Lounge and more.

Want to chat with Jenkins, help the site and score other perks? 

Become a 12th Warrior now!

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Stayin' Alive" - Bee Gees.

 CUT TO THE CHASE. Blaring horn after a power surge delays Pistons and Cavaliers in third quarter... Sleepy owl found resting among items on a New York antique store shelf... Injured mother manatee and calf are rescued in Florida and taken to SeaWorld... Older Americans are lonely. It's a public health crisis.

5 Comments

Massive 82-74 Upset Win Over No. 8 Purdue Revives Ohio State in NCAA Tournament Race

John Mobley Jr.

Colorado Hires Former Ohio State Star Vonn Bell As Safeties Coach/Defensive Analyst

Vonn Bell
View 5 Comments