SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Urban Meyer led his No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes to the second practice on their Fiesta Bowl trip Tuesday afternoon under lavish sunshine at magnificent Pinnacle High School just outside Phoenix.
Fewer than three days remain before the team's scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff against No. 8 Notre Dame New Year's Day at University of Phoenix Stadium. Tuesday provided one of two opportunities the media will be permitted to watch practice in Arizona. Media Day is scheduled for Wednesday morning, with practice later in the day.
Notes:
- Starting tight end Nick Vannett did not practice. A team spokesman said he is "under the weather," but is expected to be fine. Tuesday was the only practice he's missed all week.
- Quarterbacks J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones looked sharp in the drill portion of practice the media saw. Both were on time with throws, but neither faced and defense during the time reporters were present.
- Meyer spent all of his time with the wide receiving corps during the time media watched. He stood in the middle of the field observing, but also went hands on and coached breaking in and out of routes a few times to some of the younger players.
-
Wide receivers Dontre Wilson, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon looked full-go and were full participants. Wilson has been battling a nagging foot injury, while Dixon's knee tendonitis flared up again at the end of the season. Campbell practiced with a heavy brace on his left knee, which he sprained early in the season.
J.T. Barrett to Parris Campbell. Wide receiver looks healthy with a major knee brace on pic.twitter.com/5pCK8TPi5H
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) December 29, 2015 - Freshman wide receiver Torrance Gibson and walk-on senior wideout Kato Mitchell have the responsibility of working as Notre Dame's Will Fuller on the scout team. Both players wore green No. 7 jerseys.
- Gibson snagged a one-handed catch with ease during warmups with the wide receivers, catching it over his head after a coach lobbed in the air.
- Stephen Collier wore a green No. 14 jersey, filling the scout team role as Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer.
-
Wide receiver K.J. Hill, another freshman, wore a red jersey during practice. Hill has not played yet this season, but does not seem to be a part of the scout team.
Ohio State freshman WR KJ Hill reels in pass from J.T. Barrett https://t.co/HeHT4CC2V7
— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) December 29, 2015 - Braxton Miller dropped a pass in the back of the end zone during a drill and appeared to blame the Arizona sun as the cause for the mishap. The receivers following Miller on the route did not seem to have an issue catching passes in the sun, however.
- As is typically the case in Columbus, the Buckeye specialists honed their craft on the turf football field on the Pinnacle High School campus. This included Sean Nuernberger, Cameron Johnston, Bryce Haynes, Liam McCullough and Jack Willoughby.
- Freshman quarterback Joe Burrow is still not with the team. A team spokesman said the plan was for him to fly to Arizona Tuesday. He did not travel with his teammates and coaches after suffering a concussion in a car accident over the holidays.
- The rest of the team practiced on the grass practice field. University of Phoenix Stadium is grass.
- Ohio State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith and program legend Chris Spielman took in practice.
Stay with Eleven Warriors for videos and photos from Tuesday's practice later.
