Skull Session: Ohio State Teases Gray Uniforms For Michigan State Game, Jordan Hancock Looks Good In Offseason, Bosa Brothers Are Among NFL's Best Edge Runners

Skull Session: Ohio State Teases Gray Uniforms For Michigan State Game, Jordan Hancock Looks Good In Offseason, Bosa Brothers Are Among NFL’s Best Edge Runners

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Wake up, baby. A new Buckeye Productions trailer dropped.

His old channel is “gone forever” so be sure to visit his new channel, smash the subscribe button and press the bell. He is one of the best Ohio State content creators out there.

Let’s have a good Tuesday, shall we?

BACK IN GRAY? Ohio State football has left us with the ultimate tease. At 1:29 p.m. Monday, the team’s social media team tweeted this photo, endorsed with the signature of head coach Ryan Day:

The numbers in the middle of the picture are the date November 11, 2023 – the same day Ohio State will face Michigan State at 7:30 PM in Ohio Stadium. The date and color scheme in the photo has led many to believe that Ohio State will wear alternate gray uniforms for the primetime contest on NBC.

Ohio State hasn’t worn its all-gray alternates since JT Barrett and the Buckeyes completed a 15-point fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Penn State, 39-38, on Oct. 28, 2017. Instead, the Buckeyes have opted for other alternates in recent seasons, including all-black uniforms three times (Nebraska, 2018; Michigan State, 2019; Wisconsin, 2022), all-white uniforms once (Michigan State, 2020) and all-scarlet uniforms once (Penn State, 2021).

The all-gray uniforms would be a welcome change in the Buckeyes’ wardrobe rotation. The 2017 win over Penn State stands out as one of Ohio State’s most impressive wins in recent memory, and while I don’t expect the Michigan State game to be the same heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping thrill ride, it would still be fun to see the uniforms with the wolf theme back in action – or any other form of completely gray threads, for that matter.

We are now patiently awaiting an official announcement from Ohio State Football. Hopefully there will be fire where there has been smoke.

JORDAN HANCOCK LOOKS AMAZING. Before I dive into this section, I want to say thank you Eleven warriors using BuckeyeGuy0615 for the help with his material. Ol’ BG delivered an excellent pass; all I had to do was make the wide open layup.

Without further ado, here’s the material — a clip of Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock working on his craft with coach Oliver Davis II in Atlanta this offseason:

After he started Sweet Feet Sports Performance in the late 2010s, Davis has coached some of the best high school, college and professional defensive backs in the nation, including former Buckeye and current Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah, Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. and Washington Commanders cornerback Emmaneul Forbes Jr.

With these facts in mind, we can assume that Davis knows ball. That means we have to listen when he endorses Hancock, specifically his athleticism, ball skills and “feel for the game.” Those traits could lead to a breakout season for Hancock in 2023.

When you think about it, health has been the only hindrance in Hancock’s career at Ohio State. In 2021, he made seven appearances as a backup to Denzel Burke and Cameron Brown. The following offseason, Day, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and cornerbacks coach Tim Walton praised him for his work on and off the field. But he missed part of 2022 with a hamstring ailment that hampered him even after his return.

If Hancock can stay healthy in 2023, the Buckeyes’ quest to be at a BIA level becomes a lot easier. Burke and Davison Igbinosun must also continue to work. Assuming they do, Ohio State could have a three-headed monster at cornerback. Plus, of course, the added depth of Jyaire Brown, Calvin Simpson-Hunt, Jermaine Mathews Jr., Ryan Turner and Lorenzo Styles Jr. Sounds pretty good to me.

CONTROL THESE EDGES. Last week, Eleven Warriors readers voted Mike Vrabel, Chase Young, Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa as Ohio State’s “Four Kings” at the defensive end position. However, the votes didn’t stop for the latter two Buckeyes with our polls, as the Bosa Brothers were selected as two of the best edge rushers in the NFLaccording to league executives, coaches and scouts.

In a recent article for ESPN, Jeremy Fowler surveyed up to 80 NFL representatives to help him rank the top 10 edge rushers in the league. Nick, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, predictably came in at No. 1, while Joey secured the final spot at No. 10. Here’s what Fowler wrote about the former Buckeyes:

Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers – No. 1

Highest rank: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 3

Four years ago, the 49ers stumbled into the No. 2 overall pick in the draft thanks to a fluky four-win season, fueled in part by then-quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending injury. Their pick, Bosa, became the best pass rusher in the NFL.

“Size, strength, power, speed, quickness, solid length, repertoire of moves and high motor,” a senior NFL official said. “He has it all.”

He was the league’s sack king last season with 18.5. He produced a 15.3% pressure rate on his pass rushes in 2022, according to Next Gen Stats, and his 48 quarterback hits led the field with 12th.

Evaluators say Bosa’s leverage, “getting going,” technique and attention to detail set him apart.

“He’s just so quick and nervous,” one NFC executive said. “He rotates the rim so well and has a knack for getting the ball back. [He] looks to make a game-changing play every week.”

Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers – No. 10

Highest rank: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year’s ranking: 4

Bosa, who has been top-five for years, is another edge rusher who slipped due to injury. A groin tear that required surgery cost him most of last season. He finished with 2.5 sacks in a season marked by a costly helmet toss in a playoff loss to Jacksonville.

Bosa has long set a standard for technician-type edge rushing, attention to detail and ideal length to confuse offensive tackles. But the production — 60.5 sacks in seven seasons — doesn’t match many of his elite peers.

“He’s been really good for a long time at the art of knowing how to beat your opponent — I just wonder if the body will start to break down,” said one NFL personnel evaluator. “He’s still a relatively young guy, but he’s played a lot of football.”

One NFL personnel director pushes back on that a bit, calling Bosa a “game-plan-type player,” high on opponents’ scouting reports.

“Not as disruptive as his brother, but still super talented,” the director said.

The Bosa brothers. Good at soccer. There you can just see?

Seriously, the Bosa Brothers are two of the top 10 edge rushers in the NFL. The term “edge rushers” also includes linebackers Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys, TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers, so while Nick would have no room to improve, Joey would have been ranked significantly higher if the list included only defensive goals.

Larry Johnson has #content for days to showcase high school prospects. These prospects can sign with Ohio State, develop into one of the top defensive ends at the collegiate level, and then experience the NFL double top: Pick up a bag and climb the ranks to become a top edge rusher in the league. It’s that simple!

WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES. It’s been a busy few days for Ohio State baseball alums. Over the weekend, former outfielder Dominic Canzone received an MLB call-up to the Arizona Diamondbacks. On Monday, former left-handed pitcher Isaiah Coupet was selected No. 109 overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2023 MLB draft.

A Sagamore Hills, Ohio native and Walsh Jesuit graduate, Canzone had a phenomenal half-season for the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A franchise, the Reno Aces, compiling an impressive .354 batting average with 91 hits, 16 home runs and 71 RBI across 71 appearances. He was also named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month with a .430 average, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs and 25 RBI in June.

In three seasons with the Buckeyes from 2017-19, Canzone earned first-team All-Big Ten, first-team All-Region and third-team All-American honors. His best year was 2019, when he posted a .345/.444/.620 split with a conference-best 88 hits, 66 runs scored and 158 total bases in 63 starts.

As for Coupet, the Flossmoor, Ill., native became the 115th Buckeye drafted out of Ohio State and is the program’s highest draft pick since the Detroit Tigers selected Dillon Dingler 38th overall in the 2020 draft.

With a 9-11 record and 4.68 ERA across three seasons for the Buckeyes, Coupet’s initial stats don’t jump off the page. However, he struck out 199 batters and held opponents to a .211 average in his Ohio State career. Combine those numbers with a high-velocity fastball and a knee-twisting curveball, and the Rockies believe Coupet’s raw talent makes him worthy of a top pick in this year’s draft.

Canzone, welcome to the big leagues. Coupet, welcome to the slightly smaller leagues. Cheers to both for their dreams coming true. This kind of news makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy, which I’m a fan of.

SONG OF THE DAY. “You Make My Dreams” by Daryl Hall and John Oates.

GET TO THE POINT. The FDA is being asked to look into Logan Paul’s energy drink… Spurs decide that Wembanyama’s summer league is over after two games… Reluctant Twitter users, influencers and others are streams to Meta’s new Threads app… Sausage eating contests is a distinctly American tradition… The New York Times dissolves the sports department in favor of coverage from The Athletic.

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