Steamy temperatures bore down on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Wednesday afternoon as Ohio State finished its midweek practice as it prepares for Tulsa.
The Buckeyes host the Golden Hurricane on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. looking to avoid a mishap from a Group of Five opponent before heading to Norman, Oklahoma to battle Bob Stoops and the Sooners.
Urban Meyer met with a roomful of reporters after practice in the team room to field questions.
NOTES:
- Meyer went to one of Malik Hooker's basketball games in high school while Ohio State recruited him: "He's one of the best athletes I've seen in high school basketball. He scored like 35 points."
- On backup quarterback Joe Burrow, Meyer said his performance proved the redshirt freshman "was tough. He confirmed what we all thought. He's a tough guy, has talent and it means a lot to him."
- Asked how comfortable he would feel if Ohio State had to turn to Burrow:"Not going there. Next. Next."
- "To grade a winner around here it's tough. You earn it."
- Demario McCall is ahead of Antonio Williams in the running back pecking order: "Antonio's going to be good, he's just young."
- Dwayne Haskins is working hard but hit a bit of a freshman wall toward the end of camp.
- Wide receivers who are separating themselves from the pack: Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel. Meyer said the plan is still to rotate a bunch of players at that position.
- Corey Smith has been dealing with a hamstring issue.
- Dante Booker remains questionable for Saturday against Tulsa. Joe Burger and Jerome Baker are set to step in.
- Ohio State again is worrying about tackling in space this weekend with how Tulsa runs its offense: "I thought our defense played well for a first game, we didn't see a bunch of missed tackles ... this one, we'll maybe have a better chance at getting to the quarterback."
- Tyler Durbin continues to be Ohio State's kicker ahead of Sean Nuernberger: "Sean's getting better, though."
- Meyer has tremendous respect for Tulsa defensive coordinator Billy Young, who used to work at Ohio State: "It's not Star Wars defense, they're very sound in what they do."
