Urban Meyer hasn't watched the film yet, but said he'll go home happy after his fifth spring game as the head coach of Ohio State.
"Extremely proud of where we're at as a program," Meyer said. "They're young. We won't win a lot of games right now, but we don't have to yet, but very pleased with where we're at right now."
Meyer saw the Gray best the Scarlet, 28-17, in front of a record-setting crowd of 100,189 Saturday on a picture-perfect day at Ohio Stadium. He also saw starting quarterback J.T. Barrett continue to develop with the youth at wide receiver, but find a potential safety valve for the 2016 season in tight end Marcus Baugh.
Here are more observations on the Scarlet team from Saturday's scrimmage.
Marcus Baugh Shows He Can Be a Threat
Baugh reeled in seven passes for 64 yards from a battery of Barrett and sophomore Stephen Collier. He won't wow anyone with outstanding speed or shiftiness, but Baugh's body control and solid hands were on firm display Saturday.
Baugh's seven receptions led all receivers and the 64 yards were third-most in the game. With the graduation of Nick Vannett, Baugh needed to show he is capable of a heavier workload with two freshmen tight ends coming to campus this summer as expected contributors.
Baugh did that Saturday.
Mike Weber Makes Most Of Opportunities
Weber only toted the ball eight times for 38 yards Saturday, but scored a pair of touchdowns. Running behind an offensive line without starters Billy Price and Pat Elflein, Weber withstood some big hits from the Gray and showed he is light on his feet while still packing a mighty punch at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds.
Weber also performed well in pass protection and caught a few balls out of the backfield. Fifth-year senior Bri'onte Dunn was a surprise scratch Saturday, which left Weber and true freshman Antonio Williams as the lone scholarship running backs available.
And with Carlos Hyde in attendance, Weber showed flashes of why his teammates dubbed him "Baby 'Los" last fall.
"It was more of a throw offense, but the one drive — I kept calling the plays, saying we're just going — I want to see what he can do, and Carlos Hyde was there, so they were starting to compare him to Carlos Hyde," Meyer said. "Easy, now. He hasn't reached that level yet."
Parris Campbell Makes Catch 'He Had To Make'
Campbell led the Scarlet with 106 receiving yards, 55 of which came late in the fourth quarter on a streak down the sideline from Collier.
According to Meyer, it was essential Campbell made that play.
"It was a great catch. I watched the whole thing," Meyer said. "You do that in practice, it's not that big of a deal. He has to do that in a game, and I saw him do it, so there's a bunch of really good things."
Ohio State is without a host of big pass-catchers from last year's team. Campbell struggled to stay healthy in 2015, but showed he might have taken a necessary step in his development on Saturday.
Jashon Cornell, Jerome Baker Lead Young Defenders
Baker's one-handed interception was the highlight of the game, but it wouldn't have happened without redshirt freshman defensive tackle Robert Landers.
Landers planted Joe Burrow after causing him to throw before he wanted to in the red zone and Baker made him pay. Jashon Cornell finished with a game-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, his first public display at defensive tackle after coming to Ohio State as an end.
Baker led the Scarlet with seven tackles, another young player Meyer knows he'll need to count on this fall.
Young Secondary Experiences Growing Pains
Eric Glover-Williams, Damon Arnette and Joshua Norwood all got beat down the field by both Torrance Gibson and Terry McLaurin. Burrow didn't always connect with them, but each guy found space behind the secondary.
McLaurin also shoved off Cam Burrows on his way to a 52-yard touchdown, a play he broke wide open over the middle.
With three starters from last season gone and Gareon Conley not playing Saturday, the young guys on the back end of the defense showed they're just that — young.
