Urban Meyer: Buckeyes not ‘a great team yet, but I like where we’re at’

Ohio State’s Urban Meyer speaks at a press conference on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus. David Jablonski/Staff

Ohio State’s Urban Meyer speaks at a press conference on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus. David Jablonski/Staff

Ten days before his Ohio State team is set to open the 2017 season at Indiana, Urban Meyer sounded cautiously optimistic about his Buckeyes.

“I think we’ll have a great team,” Meyer said Monday. “I don’t think we have a great team yet, but I like where we’re at.”

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With the countdown to the season about to hit single digits, Meyer briefed reporters on several items:

  • Ohio State began preparation in full for the Hoosiers on Monday, but Meyer noted the Buckeyes have an interesting first three games as they start with a Big Ten opponent before playing host to Oklahoma then playing Army, a triple-option team. The Hoosiers and Sooners will both be under first-year head coaches.
  • He wasn't ready to name a starting right guard but called one of the competitors, Brandon Bowen, one of the most improved players of preseason camp.
  • He also praised sophomore Michael Jordan, the returning starter at left guard, and senior Damon Webb, a returning starter at safety, when asked about players who have caught his eye.
  • The competition to be the other starter at safety is down to senior Erick Smith or sophomore Jordan Fuller. Smith is another Cleveland Glenville product while Fuller was considered one of the shiniest gems of the 2016 recruiting class.
  • He wouldn't name his backup quarterback, either, but said junior Sean Nuernberger is slightly ahead of freshman Blake Haubeil.
  • The Associated Press preseason poll was released as Meyer spoke. Asked if he had any comment on the Buckeyes' being ranked No. 2 (behind No. 1 Alabama and ahead of No. 3 Florida State), he smirked.

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