A brisk morning and solid sunshine fell across Central Ohio as Urban Meyer readied for his first game week press conference in the month of October at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
Meyer's Buckeyes are 4-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation following a 58-0 shellacking of Rutgers. Ohio State hosts Indiana on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
NOTES:
- Ohio State's entire starting 11 on offense graded as champions following the win against Rutgers: J.T. Barrett, Mike Weber, Curtis Samuel, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, Marcus Baugh, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, Jamarco Jones, Isaiah Prince and Michael Jordan. Barrett and Weber were players of the game.
- Samuel is playing "at a very, very high level right now" and called Campbell "extremely important" to what his team does.
- Marcus Baugh played his best game as a Buckeye against Rutgers.
- Additionally, eight Buckeyes made champion on defense: Jalyn Holmes, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis, Chris Worley, Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore, Denzel Ward and Malik Hooker.
- Damon Arnette was special teams player of the week.
- Defensive lineman Joshua Alabi and running back Antonio Williams were named scout teams player of the week.
- Asked about Barrett's comments he got mad at the quarterback in spring 2013 after misthrowing a pass, Meyer joked "All the nice things we say about J.T. Barrett and only thing he remembers is the bad one."
- "He's obviously turned into a great player." — Meyer on Barrett.
- Barrett is entering the Tim Tebow-level of leadership right now.
- Asked about gaining 1,000,000 followers on Twitter and how he said he wanted to be the best on social media this spring, Meyer said "I said that? I never said that." Meyer meant the program as a whole: "If it helps us sign a player, great. If not, then nope."
- Dante Booker is probable. K.J. Hill "is getting close" with his high ankle sprain.
- "He's going to be a helluva player here," Meyer said on Binjimen Victor. "A few weeks ago he would quit during plays, do freshman things."
- Meyer sees more Carlos Hyde in Mike Weber than Ezekiel Elliott: “He’s a banger, a thumper, a plus yardage guy."
- Isaiah Prince has made "huge strides" through the first four games of the season. He credited Pat Elflein, Billy Price and Greg Studrawa for his development.
- On Indiana, Meyer "sees an outstanding team." He noted that this year's squad is "by far" Kevin Wilson's best in his tenure.
- On scoring right before the end of the first half more this year than last, Meyer credited his team's freshness, especially at wide receiver: "At that point, guys are blown out and this year we have a nice rotation."
- On getting things rolling more smoothly quicker this season offensively than last, Meyer credited his defense for keeping Ohio State close: "Then the fact that you have J.T. Barrett running the show, even if he makes a mistake it's usually not a big one. That helps."
- More on Mike Weber, his recruitment and Stan Drayton leaving after he signed "had no effect" to the way he attacked what the Buckeyes wanted him to do.
- Robert Landers "has been really good" and Ohio State expects him to continue and improve and be a part of the defensive line rotation: "He's a littler guy, he's quick, he's twitched up." Other players like Dre'Mont Jones need to keep getting better at that spot, also.
- On how well Ohio State is running the ball and how it affects the balance Meyer wants, he said he is OK with that: "I even stare at our scoreboard at certain times of the game and know that."
- There are going to be times Ohio State is not going to be able to run the ball the way it has: "That doesn't mean you abandon it. We have to be balanced."