Under an radiant, sunny sky and uncharacteristically warm temperatures, Urban Meyer took the podium in the team room at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Wednesday to shed light on Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class.
The Buckeyes signed 18 players on National Signing Day, after welcoming seven early enrollees last month.
Ohio State opens spring practice March 8 and its spring game is set for April 16.
Notes:
- Meyer opened by thanking his staff for its "relentless pursuit of a top 2 or 3 class. We do check the rankings, and its nice to know we are looked at among the top."
- Meyer is a fan of the recruiting calendar as it is placed right now, but admitted Ohio State was hurt by the nine early NFL Draft entrants.
- CB Jordan Fuller was "a huge get at the 11th hour."
- On the use of text messages in recruiting, Meyer was adamant that he was "clueless" on how to use his cell phone a few years ago, but he worries about the younger players are bombarded with messages from coaches and interns: "Regulation is big. Beef up the enforcement staffs and keep it a level playing field and more importantly not change the lives of young people." He is against unlimited contact with recruits.
- Meyer is a fan of July being a dead recruiting period, but not of an early signing period: "What if a kid changes his mind?"
- Ohio State had 17 guys committed before Christmas. Those 17 didn't visit anywhere else: "Pretty stable place here at Ohio State."
- On verbal commitments, Meyer tells recruits to take a look around even if they pledge to Ohio State: "Because if you're stuck with a kid who doesn't want to be here, that's not good."
- Meyer tells recruits to be honest with him and his staff if they want to look around.
- Joe Burger and Craig Fada's scholarships are only for spring and summer.
- Kyle Berger's Ohio State football career is over. He took a medical hardship waiver.
- Meyer spoke about junior college commit Malcolm Pridgeon's desire to study culinary arts, but also expects him to get on campus and compete for a starting spot immediately.
- "Some relationships are better than other relationships," Meyer said, when asked about running back Kareem Walker, who went to Michigan. Meyer added Ohio State "is very happy" with its situation at running back.
- Meyer called quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr. "an impact recruit." He said Haskins will compete for playing time as a true freshman.
- Keandre Jones will also compete for playing time as a true freshman, Meyer said.
- Meyer called this spring "critical" for Stephen Collier: "To get in the mix, you've got to be pretty good. Because Joe Burrow is really good and the one walking through the door in June is pretty good."
- Meyer said Nick Bosa, Jordan Fuller and Keandre Jones must play immediately: "I say this every year, but we really do not want to redshirt these guys. The years of fifth-year guys at Ohio State are over. This class, I would anticipate a lot of guys playing."
- Meyer called Gavin Cupp's story "great," with how he was a part of Michigan State's class before turning to Ohio State: "We didn't give him (an offer) because we felt sorry for him. He's good."
- Meyer credited relationships his assistants made with the recruits for it being a rather uneventful signing day.
- Told he has 45 players of either true freshman or redshirt freshman eligibility, Meyer said "Wow," before joking, "play them all."
- Meyer added Ohio State's winter of development is essential for those young players.
- Meyer must see a running threat in his quarterbacks. He thinks players at the position nowadays who can't run are basically extinct, except for Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
- On the staff transition, Ohio State started the conversations about moving Tim Hinton to an administrative position not long ago.
- Meyer tried to hire Greg Studrawa when the latter was at LSU, but the coach couldn't move his family at that time.
- How much does Ohio State pay attention to what Michigan is doing? "We certainly monitor everything. Not just them, but the East Division is one of the most competitive divisions in college football. We pay attention to everything."
- Would Urban Meyer ever spend the night at a recruits house? "No."
- The Big Ten is "on fire right now" in recruiting. He said he can feel that the coaching staffs are "working their tails off."
- On Malik Harrison, Meyer credited Luke Fickell on the commitment. He mentioned Harrison's basketball film is "ridiculous" and "worth watching." He's not sure what position Harrison will play at Ohio State.
- Ohio State is using the number of Buckeyes in Super Bowl 50 heavily in recruiting.
- "The Pro Day here, will probably be the biggest Pro Day in college football history."
- Meyer called the Monday Haskins, Jones and Binjimen Victor all committed "a good day." He called Victor "a big get."
- Meyer is hoping 18 members of this class play in 2016: "I'm going to force that issue."
- The secondary is the most pressing over other holes on either side of the ball right now.
- Nick Bosa "looks fantastic" and is further ahead than his brother Joey was at this time. He also joked the Bosa family "has a standing offer" from Ohio State if they wish to have more children.
