Ohio State football: 7 takeaways from media day

Urban Meyer kicked off Ohio State’s annual football media day by addressing the media Sunday. Here are the highlights.

1. Two players are in the lead to replace Ezekiel Elliott at running back – Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel. Dontre Wilson, Demario McCall and Antonio Williams are also still in the mix.

2. Meyer is high on his top four cornerbacks. Along with returning starter Gareon Conley, the coach praised Damon Arnette, Denzel Ward and Marshon Lattimore. “We have four legitimate bump-and-run corners.”

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3. If Ohio State has another Evan Spencer – senior receiver who helped set a winning tone for the 2014 national champions with his blocking and his leadership – it could be Terry McClaurin or Parris Campbell. Those were the two Meyer identified Sunday when asked about replacing Spencer’s presence, which never seemed to really happen last season.

4. Noah Brown, the player most considered Spencer’s likely replacement until he suffered a broken leg during training camp last year, is still a week away from being back to his full self, according to Meyer.

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5. Meyer is still high on the potential of Nick Bosa to play this fall, but the true freshman hasn’t taken part in scrimmaging yet during the preseason. Bosa, the younger brother of 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American Joey, is ticketed for end even though some had projected his best spot potentially being as an athletic, quick defensive tackle.

6. Ohio State has suffered two significant injuries in camp, but both were to players unlikely to be starters this fall. Darius Slade, a sophomore defensive end, is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon while Malcom Pridgeon, a junior offensive tackle, is out for three months after having knee surgery.

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7. Although he cautioned it is early to decide for sure, the coach dropped the names of several freshmen who have caught his eye aside from Bosa: receiver Victor Binjimen Victor, linebacker Keandre Jones, offensive lineman Michael Jordan, safety Jahsen Wint, safety Jordan Fuller, defensive end Jonathon Cooper and tight end Jake Hasumann.

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