Welcome to the Skull Session.
It was a special Wednesday for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes attended the Memorial Golf Tournament and partnered with The Nationwide Childrens Hospital Golden Cubs Program and later met up with the First Tee Youth Golf Program of Central Ohio pic.twitter.com/lFAYQsaaQu
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 3, 2026
Have a good Thursday.
AN ALL-AROUND GOOD DUDE. Dan Hope and I followed Jake Diebler around Muirfield Village Golf Club on Wednesday.
The Ohio State men's basketball coach was the epitome of "drive for show, putt for dough" — at least on the holes I saw — but it wasn't his golf game that impressed me during the Memorial Tournament's Golden Bear Pro-Am. It was the way he interacted with fans, both young and old.
Should he do that?
Absolutely.
Did he have to?
Not at all.
Ohio Stars mens basketball coach Jake Diebler is playing in the Memorial Tournaments Golden Bear Pro-Am. He's spent a lot of time speaking with fans and signing autographs so far. pic.twitter.com/wPLonPehZi
— Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) June 3, 2026
Yet he did it gladly, even as his professional playing partner, Brian Harman, turned down requests from kids to sign flags, hats and casts. (I suppose he needed to stay locked in on the half-dozen waggles he takes before every shot.)
After a round Diebler described as "not great," the 39-year-old said it was an honor to play in an event hosted by Ohio State legend Jack Nicklaus. He felt just as honored to speak with Buckeye fans, pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the day.
"When you get to sit in the seat, you've got a responsibility to give back. And we have unbelievable support. People are really excited about this team. We felt that today. And listen, I was once one of those kids. So I try not to take a single opportunity for granted and want to make sure that we're taking care of those young Buckeye fans,” Diebler said. “It's a great reminder. Buckeye Nation is the best. And any time you get a chance to get out and be around them, it's a great thing."
That's a quote from someone who understands that with great power comes great responsibility.
I'm rooting for Diebler to keep building momentum at Ohio State. After Wednesday, it's hard not to.
SIGN OF THE TIMES? Ohio State quarterback commit Brady Edmunds will visit UCLA this weekend. Since many people have asked me, Is this a big deal?, I will answer that question here: Yeah, kinda.
An Ohio State commit taking an official visit elsewhere is nothing new. When you're the World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes, you recruit the best prospects in America — and other programs will keep pursuing those prospects until the paperwork is signed.
Sure, it will include the usual perks: a tour of campus and facilities, photo shoots in blue and gold and the full recruiting experience. But there's also a legitimate possibility that Edmunds is considering flipping his commitment from Ryan Day's Buckeyes to the Bob Chesney’s Bruins.
Why?
Because Edmunds, a Huntington Beach, California, native who has made Columbus a second home over the past two years, may no longer be Ohio State's quarterback of the future. A shinier prospect, Nebraska commit Trae Taylor, may be.
Fresh off earning Rivals MVP honors at the Elite 11 Finals, Nebraska QB commit Trae Taylor (@Qb6Trae) is back to work. @KETV
— Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) June 2, 2026
Today marks day 2 of summer workouts with @MSouthFootball. pic.twitter.com/UqFQd6fZqC
The trajectories of Edmunds and Taylor have moved in opposite directions. That’s my opinion, of course, but it’s one based in fact.
When Edmunds committed to Ohio State in December 2024, he was a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 10 overall player in the 2027 class. Since then, he's fallen to a four-star prospect ranked No. 18 among quarterbacks and No. 224 overall.
Taylor, meanwhile, has surged up the rankings and now sits as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 60 overall prospect in the class. This past weekend, he was named Elite 11 Finals MVP after completing 16 of 20 passes and throwing seven touchdowns on Sunday.
Ohio State already liked Taylor's potential before the event. Now it has even more reason to.
In an interview with Rivals’ Adam Gorney this week, Taylor’s father, J.R. Taylor, said the Buckeyes have made their desire to flip his son’s commitment clear.
“Ohio State’s thing is: ‘We really want you here,’” J.R. Taylor said. “Trae has been really adamant that, ‘I’m not going to a school with two quarterbacks.’ We said that from Day 1. If there are two, we’re not coming for certain reasons. … I like how Trae is approaching this: ‘I’m committed to Nebraska. I will talk to any coaches who take the time to call me or come see me because it’s just respectful but I’m not taking any visits of now because I’m a Husker at this point… I’m committed there. I’ve been working there.’ That kind of thing.”
It's becoming increasingly clear that if Ohio State had to choose between Edmunds and Taylor, it would choose Taylor.
That's unfortunate for Edmunds, a lifelong Buckeye fan who has been one of Ohio State's most active peer recruiters in the 2027 class. But it's also business. If Day believes Taylor is the better long-term option, he has to be willing to make difficult decisions.
He's done it before — remember Air Noland? — and he may have to do it again if he believes it's what's best for Ohio State's future.
“HE’S A PIED PIPER.” Jerry Jones and I have something in common: We both love Caleb Downs. I think the commonalities end there — fortunately (he’s polarizing) and unfortunately (he’s a billionaire).
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News’ Joseph Hoyt last week, Jones compared Downs to his star quarterback Dak Prescott.
“He reminds me of Dak,” Jones said. “He really does. He’s a pied piper.”
Prescott told Hoyt he appreciates the comparison.
“Just honestly, I can say in just the month or whatever I’ve been around the kid and watching the kid, hell, I think I take it as a compliment when those comparisons come around,” he said.
Cowboys' Dak Prescott quickly impressed with by rookie Caleb Downs' "contagious" confidencehttps://t.co/DmV1DIFm9r
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 2, 2026
Downs has mostly participated in workouts and meetings since the Cowboys made him the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and he had his first organized activities with the entire team on Monday. Still, Prescott said Downs had impressed him in the weeks between late April and June.
“How professional he is, how calm he is; quiet, yet confident,” Prescott said. “It’s contagious. You feel it. He’s a man who’s sure of who he is. When you are that way in this business you know you can speak up, speak out. You can say things you believe and age doesn’t really matter, because you know you’re doing the right thing.”
Downs’ on-field accomplishments also stand out to Prescott.
“He’s a guy that’s a leader just by the way that he carries himself and the way he approaches it,” Prescott said. “I know he’s leading that rookie class, but he understands the way that the locker room goes and what it means to earn the veteran’s trust and to get their respect. He’s a humble kid that’s coming in there each and every day quiet and grinding.”
“IT’S JUST SURREAL.” William Buford is back.
Jake Diebler announced Monday that the former Ohio State guard has joined his staff as a program assistant. In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch's Adam Jardy, Buford said he's been eagerly awaiting the public announcement. Ever since officially accepting the position, he's had to pinch himself.
“It’s just surreal,” Buford told Jardy. “I’ve been super excited every day I walk into the gym. It’s all new to me, and I get to learn from guys I consider family — people I’ve known for basically half my life. It’s a dope experience, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Will's excited to get going pic.twitter.com/LXLWDFd6Vp
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 1, 2026
Buford's official title is program assistant, but the former Buckeye expects to wear plenty of hats. He told Jardy he'll be on the court for workouts, help the scout team during practices and learn how to cut and code film for the coaching staff. In short, Buford is prepared to do “anything that the program needs” in his first season back in Columbus.
Family played a major role in Buford's decision to join Ohio State's staff and will continue to motivate him in the role. Buford played alongside Diebler's brother, Jon, during his Buckeye career. He also played for assistant coach Dave Dickerson, now a member of Diebler's staff, and worked closely with strength and conditioning coach Dave Richardson, who returned to Ohio State in 2026 after spending the previous eight years in the same role at Arkansas.
Woody Hayes once said, “You win with people.”
Ohio State added a good one in Buford.
The former Buckeye star knows what it takes to win in Columbus, and his passion for the program is obvious. With someone like Buford back in the building, Ohio State is better positioned to do plenty of winning this winter.
SONG OF THE DAY. "Desperado" - Eagles.
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