Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had plenty of praise to go around for his team on Monday, two days following the Buckeyes' 38-7 win against Army.
One player who was asked about on multiple occasions during the press conference was Tuf Borland, who was named as Ohio State's defensive player of the game for his 12-tackle performance on Saturday, and Meyer had nothing but good things to say about the redshirt freshman linebacker.
"He's everything you think he would be," Meyer said. Meyer added that Borland's "personality matches his name." "He's a tough guy."
Here's what else you need to know from Meyer's meeting with the media:
- Well-known Ohio State fan Jacob Jarvis was in attendance for the Monday press conference. Meyer stopped to greet him on his way into the press conference and stopped in the middle of his press conference to joke with him and introduce him to the room.
- J.T. Barrett, Parris Campbell, Austin Mack, K.J. Hill, J.K. Dobbins, Billy Price, Branden Bowen, Isaiah Prince, Michael Jordan and Marcus Baugh were offensive champions in addition to offensive players of the game Jamarco Jones and Terry McLaurin.
- Sam Hubbard, Nick Bosa, Tracy Sprinkle, Dre'Mont Jones, Jerome Baker, Denzel Ward, Kendall Sheffield, Damon Arnette, Erick Smith and Damon Webb were defensive champions in addition to Borland.
- Meyer gave special recognition to Denzel Ward, Amir Riep, Jeffrey Okudah, Parris Campbell and Justin Hilliard for their performance on special teams. Keandre Jones was special teams player of the game.
- Chris Worley is questionable to play this week after spraining his foot Saturday against Army.
- Meyer on Dwayne Haskins: "I thought he played very well."
- Joe Burrow is almost ready to come back, so the coaching staff will have to make a decision on who the No. 2 quarterback behind J.T. Barrett will be, but that decision has not been made yet.
- Areas that are "critical" for Ohio State to improve in include pass defense, continued growth on offense and punt return.
- Meyer is displeased with the performance of Blake Haubeil on kickoffs and is considering putting Sean Nuernberger in that role.
- Meyer has been pleased with the work of true freshman quarterback Tate Martell and guards Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis on the scout team.
- Meyer laughed when Jarvis asked him how Barrett played against Army in comparison to how he played against Oklahoma. As for his answer, Meyer thought Barrett's performance was better.
- Demario McCall has been dealing with a groin/abdomen injury and is not yet ready to go at full speed.
- Whether Ohio State takes more deep shots in the passing game depends on how the defense lines up. Meyer believes the Buckeyes had a smart offensive game plan, which consisted primarily of horizontal passing, to beat Army on Saturday.
- Will the addition of J.K. Dobbins change the way defenses play Ohio State? "Oh yeah."
- Mike Weber remains "very critical" to Ohio State's offense but is still not back to full strength. "His commitment to our program is incredible right now, so he'll be rewarded."
- True freshman cornerback Shaun Wade, who has not played yet this season, has been "dinged up" and did not practice last week.
Check back with Eleven Warriors later this afternoon for further coverage from Meyer's latest press conference.
