The NCAA adopted a new set of rules in April reducing the number of dates that college football coaches are permitted to be on the road to 10 days in June and July, meaning Ohio State can participate in a maximum of 10 satellite camps this summer. With the Spring Evaluation Period coming to an end at the turn of the month, it allows the staff to have face-to-face contact with out-of-state recruits rather than waiting for them to come to campus.
“You have to do what you have to do to stay up in the world of recruiting,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said last year.
Meyer and the rest of the staff, albeit reluctantly at first, have used satellite camps to establish relationships with prospects and their coaches in all corners of the country. Their 2017 schedule is not yet completed, but the Buckeyes have already booked five camps in four states, while also hosting prospects on six dates on campus.
We've compiled a list of where you can expect Meyer or his assistants to be throughout the summer, and we'll update it when any new camp dates are announced.
JUNE 3
Ohio State will get things started with The Kumite Showcase at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. The camp, which will be in conjunction with coaches from Oregon, San Diego State, Stanford, UCLA, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, USC and Washington State, will host a number of the top Polynesian players in the country. That includes four-star inside linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu.
JUNE 8
From there, the staff will head to Houston for a one-day camp with Arizona — led by former Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez — at Texas Southern University. Five-star cornerback target Anthony Cook and four-star wide receivers Brennan Eagles and Al'vonte Woodard are all expected to be in attendance.
JUNE 8-9
The staff will have to be split between that event and the Champions Elite Camp in LaGrange, Georgia, that same day. Ohio State and Michigan are set to be among the more than 40 programs in attendance, which makes sense given their increased presence in the Peach State. Some potential attendees include five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer, three-star cornerback Jaycee Horn and three-star linebacker Michael Harris.
JUNE 11
Former Texas coach Charlie Strong will host a series of camps at USF in mid-June, with Bowling Green, Mississippi State and Ohio State among the marquee names. The Tampa-based camp will be the first of at least two in Florida, which makes sense given the sheer amount of talent across the state. Four-star offensive tackles Richard Gouraige and Will Putnam are expected to attend.
JUNE 15
Ohio State will then partner with Arizona, Boston College, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, UCF and USF for a one-day camp at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Meyer is headlining the event, unsurprisingly given the fact that five-star cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr., four-star cornerback Tyson Campbell and a host of other talented South Floridians may be in attendance.
As mentioned, the Buckeyes are also hosting a series of camps in Columbus. They are as follows:
- June 5-6 – Youth Camp
- June 9 – One-Day Position Camp
- June 13 – One-Day Position Camp
- June 17 – One-Day Position Camp
- June 17 – Specialist and Special Teams Camp
- July 21 – Friday Night Lights
