While the Buckeye basketball team was fighting tooth-and-nail in a hard-fought 66-61 loss to Maryland, the football team's coaching staff was working hard in their own right as they hosted many key 2017 and 2018 targets during their first Junior Day of 2016.
Eleven Warriors caught up with a handful of the players who made the trip to Columbus today for their reaction.
DANNY CLARK • 2017 • QB • AKRON ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
"I was there all day. I had a great day. I have an incredible relationship with coach Beck and Urban Meyer. I talk to them about five or six times a week. They just tell me to keep it up and win another state championship. We talk about how great it will be when I'm finally on the team. I talked a lot to Fred Hansard, I've got a good relationship with him and he's a great kid. This was my third invite junior day at Ohio State. They measured us and I came in 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, and everyone thought that was good."
TODD SIBLEY • 2017 • RB • AKRON ARCHBISHOP HOBAN
"It was plenty of fun actually learning about the real life aspect and what it's like being a student athlete at Ohio State. The one-on-one with position coaches stood out. I spent a little time on Lamont Wade."
WESTON BRIDGES • 2017 • RB • COPLEY
"Today was good. Just talked to Tony Alford stood out. I met some different coaches today and they like me a lot."
JAELEN GILL • 2018 • RB • WESTERVILLE SOUTH
"It went great! I had a blast and I had more one-on-one attention for sure than other visits. I talked to both Urban Meyer and Tony Alford individually for about 10 minutes and I'm definitely a priority for them."
MATT DOTSON • 2017 • TE • CINCINNATI MOELLER
"It went pretty good. They had a coaching change at tight end so I'm trying to get to know coach Warinner a little bit more. I talked to him in the positional meetings and mostly talked to Coombs and Hinton."
JOSH MYERS • 2017 • OL • MIAMISBURG
"It was a ton of fun. I got to hangout with coach Warinner's son, which was so cool, me and coach talk about him all the time, so it was cool to finally meet him! Coach Studrawa is such a personable guy and our conversations can go just about anywhere. He definitely made a great first impression."
JACKSON CARMAN • 2018 • OL • FAIRFIELD
"It was great. Just one of those overall great experiences. Coach Studrawa is a high-quality guy and he's got a great personality. I spent more time with Urban Meyer than anyone else there. We talked before his presentation and after lunch I went down to his office and we talked for a while."
JOEL HONIGFORD • 2017 • OL • SUGARCREEK GARAWAY
"It went really well. I really like how they constantly talked about how they are one family. They are all tight and close to each other. I also liked how they maximize their players potential and really develop them to be the best athletically and in life."
MATT CARRICK • 2017 • OL • PERRY
"It went well. I got to meet Coach Studrawa and they showed what they are all about. I just liked all the things he was talking about when we split up in our groups.
MATT SICHTERMAN • 2017 • OL • KINGS MILLS KINGS
"It was just an incredible experience. That was my first visit, and what really stood out to me was the path to success that you are set on at Ohio State. Coach Meyer and his staff are going to teach the game better than any coaches in the country, the strength coaches are going to get your body right, and with programs like Real Life Wednesdays the goal is to get everyone four job offers before they graduate. Oh, and the facilities are second to none which is a sweet bonus. I grew up in Wisconsin as a Wisconsin fan, but after today's visit no doubt I'm gonna be cheering for them in the future."
JORDAN MCNAIR • 2017 • OL • OWINGS MILLS (MARYLAND) MCDONOGH SCHOOL
"It was a great trip. It was my first time there. The facilities and the staff stood out the most. I liked how everyone has the same vision and everyone is on the same page."
ANTWUAN JOHNSON • 2018 • DL • SPRINGFIELD
"It was a great experience. What stood out were the academics, the weight room and the culture. The atmosphere is just a winning atmosphere and the fan base is ridiculous. I love how the coaches push you and demand excellence from you each and everyday."
LAMONT WADE • 2017 • DB • CLAIRTON (PENNSYLVANIA)
"It was definitely a good trip. I enjoyed the game a lot, and the staff showed me that I was a priority for them."
JAYLEN KELLY-POWELL • 2017 • DB • DETROIT CASS TECH
"This trip was mostly for my mom to get a feel for Ohio State. The coaching staff, especially Kerry Coombs showed my mom so much love. They answered all her questions the best they could. My mom told me that Ohio State is great school for academics and football. So today was a pretty good day."
