Welcome to the Skull Session.
Marvin Harrison Jr. has so much DRIP.
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 26, 2024
Have a good Friday.
OH, HE IS MARVELOUS. With the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals selected former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The selection made Harrison – a 6-foot-3, 209-pound pass-catcher with 155 receptions, 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns in three years with the Buckeyes – the highest-drafted wide receiver in program history.
Marvin Harrison Jr., YOU are an Arizona Cardinal. pic.twitter.com/WoXE4E1U4z
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 26, 2024
Here is who Harrison passed to accomplish the feat:
No. 10 – Michael Jenkins, No. 29 overall
A three-year starter at Ohio State, Jenkins collected 165 receptions for 2,898 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career. The Atlanta Falcons selected him in the 2004 NFL draft, and he spent the next seven seasons (2004-10) with the franchise. He also spent another two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2011-12) and one season with the New England Patriots (2013).
No. 9 – Santonio Holmes, No. 25 overall
Holmes recorded 140 catches for 2,295 yards and 25 touchdowns in his four years at Ohio State. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the 2006 NFL draft, and he spent the next four years (2006-09) with the organization. Holmes helped the Steelers win their most recent Super Bowl in 2008, hauling in a 6-yard touchdown from Ben Roethlisberger with 35 seconds left in regulation. After a four-year stint with the New York Jets (2010-14), Holmes ended his career with the Chicago Bears in 2014.
No. 8 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, No. 20 overall
Following a three-year career at Ohio State, which included a record-breaking 15-catch, 347-yard, three-touchdown performance in the 2022 Rose Bowl, Smith-Njigba landed with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie last season, JSN established himself as the Seahawks’ WR3 behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, collecting 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games.
No. 7 – Chris Olave, No. 11 overall
The No. 68 wide receiver and No. 399 overall prospect in the 2018 class, Chris Olave proved to be a diamond-in-the-rough prospect for Ohio State, collecting 176 receptions for 2,711 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns in his four years with the Buckeyes. The New Orleans Saints moved up to select him in the 2022 NFL draft, a decision Olave has made seem ingenious with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the franchise.
No. 6 – Garrett Wilson, No. 10 overall
From the moment Garrett Wilson stepped on Ohio State’s campus, the Buckeyes knew he would be a star. Across three seasons in Columbus, Wilson caught 143 passes for 2,213 yards and 23 touchdowns. The New York Jets selected him in the 2022 NFL draft, and despite a cast of quarterbacks that included Zach Wilson, Mike White, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemien and Tim Boyle, Wilson recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022.
No. 5 – Ted Ginn Jr., No. 9 overall
One of college football’s greatest all-purpose players of all time, Ted Ginn Jr. returned 30 kickoffs for 1,012 yards and two touchdowns, 64 punts for 900 yards and six touchdowns and caught 125 passes for 1,943 yards and 15 touchdowns in his Ohio State career. The Miami Dolphins picked him in the 2007 NFL draft. He spent 14 years in the league with the Dolphins (2007-09), San Franciso 49ers (2010-12), Carolina Panthers (2013), Arizona Cardinals (2014), Carolina Panthers (2015-16), New Orleans Saints (2017-19) and Chicago Bears (2020).
No. 3 – Joey Galloway, No. 8 overall
Galloway shined during his five-year Ohio State career, collecting 108 receptions for 1,494 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Seattle Seahawks selected him in the 1995 NFL draft, and he spent the next five years with the franchise. Galloway also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys (2000-03), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-08), New England Patriots (2009), Pittsburgh Steelers (2009) and Washington Redskins (2010) in his 16-year NFL career.
No. 3 – David Boston, No. 8 overall
A three-year starter at Ohio State, Boston set several records for the Buckeyes, including career receptions (191), career receiving yards (2,855), single-season receiving yards (1,435) and career receiving touchdowns (34). Almost three decades later, those same records now belong to K.J. Hill (201), Jenkins (2,746), Smith-Njigba (1,606) and Olave (35). The Arizona Cardinals selected Boston in the 1999 NFL draft, and he spent his 10-year career with the Cardinals (1999-2002), San Diego Chargers (2003), Miami Dolphins (2004-05) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-07).
No. 2 – Terry Glenn, No. 7 overall
In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Glenn appeared in 32 games and collected 79 receptions for 1,677 yards and 17 touchdowns. Almost all of that production came during his junior season, as the Columbus native caught 57 passes for 1,316 yards and 17 scores to win the Biletnikoff Award. The New England Patriots picked him in the 1996 NFL draft, and he spent the next six years with the franchise. Glenn also spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2002) and Dallas Cowboys (2003-07) during his 12-year career.
No. 1 – Marvin Harrison Jr., No. 4 overall
See above to read about the innate dog that is Marvelous Marv.
Reminder: Ohio State is Wide Receiver U.
I mean, who could match a top 10 like this? Alabama? LSU? USC?
Ohio State has its top 10 and then adds honorable mentions like Anthony Gonzalez (No. 32 overall), Brian Robiskie (No. 36 overall), Curtis Samuel (No. 40 overall), Michael Thomas (No. 47 overall), Parris Campbell (No. 57 overall) and Terry McLaurin (No. 76 overall), among others.
That said, I’ll the Buckeyes over the Tide, Tigers and Trojans seven days a week – and twice on Sundays.
WHAT ABOUT NFLU? Ohio State is WRU. But what about NFLU? Can the Buckeyes claim that title, too?
I think so!
After Marvin Harrison Jr. went No. 4 overall on Thursday, Ohio State’s total of 90 all-time first-round draft picks increased to 91. The next closest schools in the category are USC (86), Alabama (82), Notre Dame (71) and Miami (67). The Buckeyes’ 486 all-time draft picks, as of Thursday, rank third all-time behind the Irish (524) and Trojans (526).
At No. 1 and No. 3 overall in those categories, I believe Ohio State has grounds to call itself THE National Football League University. With Ohio State’s NFL draft track record since Ryan Day became head coach, the Buckeyes seem poised to add evidence to their claim in the future:
| ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | CHASE YOUNG | DE |
| 1 | 3 | DETROIT LIONS | JEFF OKUDAH | CB |
| 1 | 19 | OAKLAND RAIDERS | DAMON ARNETTE | CB |
| 2 | 55 | BALTIMORE RAVENS | J.K. DOBBINS | RB |
| 3 | 73 | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | DAVON HAMILTON | DT |
| 3 | 75 | DETROIT LIONS | JONAH JACKSON | G |
| 3 | 98 | BALTIMORE RAVENS | MALIK HARRISON | LB |
| 6 | 199 | LOS ANGELES RAMS | JORDAN FULLER | S |
| 7 | 220 | LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | K.J. HILL | WR |
| 7 | 235 | DETROIT LIONS | JASHON CORNELL | DT |
| ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | CHICAGO BEARS | JUSTIN FIELDS | QB |
| 2 | 60 | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | PETE WERNER | LB |
| 2 | 62 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | JOSH MYERS | C |
| 3 | 86 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS | WYATT DAVIS | G |
| 3 | 88 | SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | TREY SERMON | RB |
| 3 | 105 | DENVER BRONCOS | BARON BROWNING | LB |
| 4 | 132 | CLEVELAND BROWNS | TOMMY TOGIAI | DT |
| 5 | 145 | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | LUKE FARRELL | TE |
| 5 | 160 | BALTIMORE RAVENS | SHAUN WADE | CB |
| 7 | 239 | DENVER BRONCOS | JONATHON COOPER | DE |
| ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | NEW YORK JETS | GARRETT WILSON | WR |
| 1 | 11 | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | CHRIS OLAVE | WR |
| 3 | 69 | TENNESSEE TITANS | NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE | OT |
| 3 | 101 | NEW YORK JETS | JEREMY RUCKERT | TE |
| 5 | 158 | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | TYREKE SMITH | DE |
| 7 | 238 | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | THAYER MUNFORD | OT |
| ROUND | PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | HOUSTON TEXANS | C.J. STROUD | QB |
| 1 | 6 | ARIZONA CARDINALS | PARIS JOHNSON JR. | OT |
| 1 | 20 | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | WR |
| 3 | 75 | ATLANTA FALCONS | ZACH HARRISON | DE |
| 4 | 111 | CLEVELAND BROWNS | DAWAND JONES | OT |
| 6 | 190 | CLEVELAND BROWNS | LUKE WYPLER | C |
Can I get a #DevelopedHere?
“OHIO STATE IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.” In the Thursday Skull Session, I included part of Josh Pate’s one-on-one interview with Ryan Day in which the head coach discussed his future at Ohio State and the pressure for the Buckeyes to perform this season.
I loved what Day shared regarding those topics – that he wants to be at Ohio State “for a long time” and that the Buckeyes “have to have thick skin.” I also loved what Day shared during another segment about internal and external expectations for the program. First, he quoted former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and said, “Pressure is a privilege.” Then, he said coaching and playing for the Buckeyes is “not for the faint of heart.”
“Ohio State is not for everybody. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to want it… We’re the most-watched team on TV year in and year out.”
@OhioStateFB head coach Ryan Day spoke w/ @LateKickJosh about embracing the pressure in Columbus
https://t.co/4nqrcggeh4 pic.twitter.com/M4cJof4J4z
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) April 24, 2024
“Ohio State is not for everybody. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to want it. You’re gonna be at the highest level. Our fanbase is over 12 million (people). We’re the most-watched team on TV year in and year out. You’re gonna get a lot of support, but you’re also gonna get some criticism. That’s part of this thing. You have to want to be that way. You have to think differently. You have to be that alpha. I think about when Marvin Harrison (Jr.) came into the wide receiver room. I think there were four five-stars in that room. He didn’t care. He ends up being a Biletnikoff Award winner and a first-round draft pick. It’s that mindset.
“When Quinshon Judkins reached out to us and said he was interested in coming to Ohio State, the first thing I did was call TreVeyon Henderson, and I said, ‘Trey, we have an opportunity to bring Quinshon Judkins in. What are your thoughts?’ It didn’t take long for him to say, ‘Coach, if it’s gonna make us better, and if it’s gonna make me better, let’s do it.’ I let Quinshon know that Trey wasn’t going anywhere. He said, ‘I love it. We’ll push each other. We’ll be a one-two punch.’ That’s what you want here. That’s not for everybody. Some guys will go other places and say, ‘I want to be the guy.’ But that’s just one example of the mindset you have to have here.”
All of that is great.
I’ll add that being an Ohio State football fan is not for the faint of heart, either.
Over the years, there have been some moments where fans can feel their heart in their throat – the 2022 Rose Bowl, the 2022 Peach Bowl, the 2023 Notre Dame game and all but a handful of Penn State games over the past decade. That’s not to mention all of the matchups with “That Team Up North.”
To borrow from college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein, being an Ohio State football fan means reaching for nitroglycerin pills from time to time. But as Day said about his coaches and players, “That’s what you want here.” You want to be relevant. You want games that matter. And you want the Buckeyes to beat the best of the best.
Thankfully, more often than not, that’s what Ohio State does week in and week out during the college football season.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. This week, Eleven Warriors learned that Ralph Holloway, a pivotal member of the Super Sophomores who helped Ohio State win the 1968 and 1970 national championships, died on Feb. 8, 2024.
Holloway’s obituary, which includes information about his childhood in Oberlin, Ohio, his experience as an Ohio State football player and more, can be found on a website for Aftercare Cremation and Burial Service:
Ralph Bunche Holloway, affectionately known as Bear, was born on October 8, 1949, in Oberlin, Ohio, to Fred and Luereacie Holloway. He was the youngest of nine and departed from this world on February 8, 2024.
Ralph’s journey began in Oberlin, where he attended Oberlin High School. It was there that he showcased his talent and passion for football, earning the most valuable player award in 1965 and graduating in 1967. His remarkable skills caught the attention of Woody Hayes, leading to his recruitment to The Ohio State University Buckeyes football team.
As a pivotal member of the “super sophomores”, Ralph’s contributions were instrumental in the team’s success. He proudly represented The Ohio State buckeyes in the 1969 and 1971 Rose Bowls. His dedication and hard work bore fruit with two National Championships in 1968 and 1970.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Ralph pursued his academic aspirations, earning a Bachelor of Education from The Ohio State University. His commitment to excellence extended beyond the field, earning him the Varsity O for football in 1968, 1969 and 1970.
Ralph played briefly in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts and then taught in the Columbus public schools. He went on to enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career as a Sales Executive for Worthington Industries until his retirement. Subsequently, Ralph waged a hard fought, valiant battle with Multiple Myeloma.
To those who knew him dearly, Ralph was more than a sports icon; he was a beloved husband, father, uncle and loyal friend. His radiant smile illuminated the lives of many and will forever be cherished in their memories. Throughout his life, Ralph touched the hearts of countless individuals with his kindness, generosity, and unwavering compassion.
A true embodiment of integrity and perseverance Ralph approached every endeavour with enthusiasm and determination, inspiring those around him to strive for excellence. He was an extremely good judge of character. Whether in his personal or professional life, Ralph exemplified the values of honesty, humility and resilience. His legacy of love and kindness will forever endure in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Ralph Holloway is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Luereacie Holloway, as well as his brothers; Albert C. Holloway, David, L. Holloway and James R. Holloway and his sisters; Carrie Linell Walker, Louise Holloway Glover, and Luereacie “Reacie” Holloway.
He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Sandra Lavis Holloway; his two sisters, Martha Hodge and Ada (William) Dixon; his son, Adam (Danielle) Holloway; and his granddaughter, Zelda Holloway to whom he was “Grandbear”. Additionally, he leaves behind a host of very special nieces, nephews and countless friends, who will continue to honour his legacy.
Though Ralph Bunche Bear Holloway may have departed from this world, his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. Rest in peace, dear Bear, your memory will forever be treasured.
In addition to Holloway’s obituary, Aftercare’s website also features a “Tribute Wall” where visitors can share memories of Ralph. I am sure his loved ones would appreciate some comments from those who watched him perform for head coach Woody Hayes and the Buckeyes.
Rest in peace, Ralph. You are gone but not forgotten.
SONG OF THE DAY. “Humble and Kind” – Tim McGraw.
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