Ohio State clocked back in to its spring practice schedule Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center after taking a hard stop for a week while the university was on break.
Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes are set for 12 practices over the next month ahead of its annual spring game April 16 at Ohio Stadium. The head coach answered questions after his team's third practice of spring.
Notes:
- On potentially bringing spring practice to Florida, Meyer said he "can't see" taking spring break away from players but Ohio State "looks into everything."
- Meyer said Houston head coach Tom Herman reached out to him about how to deal with the heightened expectations as the head of a program. He said he tries to talk to Herman as much as he can because he enjoys it.
- On the players on his current team: "I hope there's more practice on them now than there will be this fall at our first game."
- Meyer said the staff is trying to create a stressful environment for the players in the spring so as to not allow them to get comfortable as they develop.
- On Marcus Baugh, Meyer said Ohio State "is not out of the woods yet" with his issues off the field but he's come a long way. He said he tries to take a glass half-full mindset with younger guys that need to mature and Baugh was an example of that.
- "It's hard to say no to great players, but there's a chance of not everybody sticking." — Meyer on recruiting and the early commitments for the 2017 class. He added that when he tells his wife, Shelley, Ohio State received a commitment she says, "So what? We'll see when they sign."
- Meyer said he would not offer a ninth grader a scholarship because it is too early.
- Meyer said the fact Ohio State has some stability at quarterback and center with J.T. Barrett and Pat Elflein gives the team "a decent shot at being good on offense."
- Practice was "good" Tuesday after a week off from break, Meyer said. "We ran them pretty good (Monday)."
- Meyer said before 2014 he started writing down the players' names that were set to play that fall for his team. He's doing the same thing right now.
- Meyer said he's been asked by NFL personnel about Braxton Miller and Cardale Jones the most throughout the NFL Draft process, two players who are "wildcards" because they don't have a lot of tape at their positions. He said he left Pro Day "feeling great" about where the guys who worked out stood.
- Dontre Wilson has a "sore foot" but should be full-go by next week, Meyer said. He added both Wilson and Curtis Samuel both "will carry the ball" this year.
- Evan Lisle was sick Tuesday and missed practice, Meyer said. He is battling for the right guard position with Demetrius Knox.
- Overall, Meyer said he was "a little disappointed" in the offensive line Tuesday.
- Meyer said he likes what he's seeing from Joe Burrow, and his release is much better. He is anxious to see how Burrow performs Saturday when the team scrimmages.
- Malik Hooker caught Meyer's eye at safety Tuesday, along with Denzel Ward. Ward, Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley are three corners the staff "feel really good about."
