Ohio State is set to make just its second trip ever to Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday to take on a Rutgers program that is still trying to climb out of the college football cellar.
The Scarlet Knights have won just three games in the past two seasons under Chris Ash, who left his post as Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator to become the head coach at Rutgers.
One of the reasons Urban Meyer encouraged Ash to take the next jump in his career was because of the high school football talent that resides in and around Piscataway. Meyer knows those areas all too well, as he has had at least one commitment from either New Jersey or New York in each recruiting class since 2013.
What follows is a list of Meyer's commitments from either New Jersey or New York and their accomplishments at Ohio State, starting with the 2013 class.
2013
CB Eli Apple - Voorhees, N.J.
Perhaps Meyer's best recruit in this group, Apple came to Ohio State in 2013 and redshirted despite the Buckeyes sporting one of the worst pass defenses in the country.
Apple earned a starting spot opposite Doran Grant in 2014 as a redshirt freshman and played an integral role in helping Ohio State turn its pass defense around. With the help of Ash as co-defensive coordinator, the Buckeyes improved from the 112th ranked pass defense in 2013 to 29th in 2014. During that season, Apple finished with three interceptions, the last of which came on the final play of the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Apple returned in 2015 and opposing offenses made sure to throw away from him. He earned just one interception as a redshirt sophomore, but remained effective as a solid open field tackler and lock-down corner. Apple was selected with the 10th overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, and is currently in his second season with the New York Giants.
2014
WR Noah Brown - Sparta, N.J.
Brown was one of a few members of the 2014 class to earn playing time as a true freshman on Ohio State's national title team. He played primarily on special teams, but did make his first career catch in a blowout win over Illinois and carried the ball once in the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.
His 2015 season ended before it could start, as he suffered a broken leg in fall camp. He returned in 2016 to make 32 catches for 402 yards and seven scores before entering the 2017 NFL Draft, a decision that caught some off guard.
Brown was selected in the 7th round of the draft by the Dallas Cowboys and made his first career catch this week on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals.
RB/H-back Curtis Samuel - Brooklyn, N.Y.
Joining Brown as one of the few true freshmen to play in the 2014 class, Samuel exploded onto the scene as a rookie, earning 69 offensive touches for 478 yards and six scores. He even started one game over Ezekiel Elliott at running back in 2014, a win over Illinois.
Samuel's touches dropped in 2015 as Braxton Miller emerged as Ohio State's top H-back, but came back in 2016 with one of the more impressive stat lines in college football.
Samuel caught for and rushed for more than 700 yards each during Ohio State's 11-2 season in 2016, earning All-America honors before being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft by the Carolina Panthers. In three games with the Panthers, Samuel has just four catches for 12 yards so far this season.
DE Darius Slade - Montclair, N.J.
A three-star recruit, Slade's career at Ohio State never panned out. After redshirting the national title season, Slade played in seven games in 2015 for the Buckeyes. An Achilles injury sidelined him for the entire 2016 season, and Meyer announced at Big Ten Media Days in July that Slade had transferred.
Slade is currently listed on Arizona State's football roster, where he is sitting out the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
2015
OL Kevin Feder - Ramsey, N.J.
Feder was also a three-star recruit whose career has not taken off. Listed as Ohio State's tallest player at 6-foot-9, Feder looks the part as an offensive tackle but has battled injuries and has yet to appear on Ohio State's depth chart this season. He is currently behind freshman Thayer Munford and converted defensive lineman Joshua Alabi.
2016
S Jordan Fuller - Westwood, N.J.
A four-star safety coming out of high school, Fuller earned time last season as a true freshman, but did not playing in meaningful reps other than on special teams.
Fuller currently is splitting time with Erick Smith at safety, but did manage to earn his first career interception in Ohio State's season opening win against Indiana on Aug. 31. Fuller currently ranks sixth on the team in tackles with 17 and will be making his first return trip to his home state after playing Rutgers in Columbus a season ago.
OL Malcolm Pridgeon - Central Islip, N.Y.
Pridgeon came to Ohio State out of Nassau Community College in 2016 and figured to compete for the opening at right tackle left vacant by Chase Farris. However, Pridgeon suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp and was forced to watch his first season as a Buckeye from the sideline.
Pridgeon competed for but lost a competition with Branden Bowen for the opening at right guard heading into the 2017 season, and is currently listed as Bowen's backup at the position.
S Jahsen Wint - Brooklyn, N.Y.
A former teammate of Samuel at Erasmus Hall High School, Wint has yet to make an impact for Ohio State. He redshirted the 2016 season and has yet to crack the two-deep at safety. Freshman Isaiah Pryor is currently listed as the primary backup to veteran Damon Webb.
2017
K Blake Haubeil - Buffalo, N.Y.
Haubeil came to Ohio State this season as one of the more highly recruited kickers in his recruiting class. He competed for the starting placekicker job with veteran Sean Nuernberger in fall camp and currently handles the Buckeyes' kickoff duties.
