New to NFL coaching, Urban Meyer scouts Ohio State players

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — New Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer likes to go with what he knows and
trusts. That may end up benefiting some of his former recruits who worked out at Ohio State’s pro day on
Tuesday in front of Meyer and other NFL coaches and executives.
Meyer, who retired as Ohio State coach at the end of the 2018 season, took the Jacksonville job in
mid-January. He has shown up personally at just one other school’s pro day — for Clemson quarterback
Trevor Lawrence, who the Jaguars are expected to take with the top overall draft pick next month.
It stands to reason Meyer will give a good once-over to the group of draft-eligible Ohio State seniors he
already recruited and who thrived under his tutelage.
"It would be cool to play with coach Meyer, just because I know what he brings to the table and the
culture he brings," said linebacker Justin Hilliard, one of 14 players to work out at Ohio State in
lieu of the canceled scouting combine.
Does being a former Meyer guy give him an edge?
"Yeah," he said. "I think he knows exactly how I go to work every single day. I mean, when
coach Meyer was here he ran special teams, and when he was here I believe I was the best special teams
player in the country."
Meyer is considered a master recruiter and motivator at the college level. He spent seven seasons at Ohio
State and won a national championship after winning a pair of national titles at Florida. But he’s
coaching in the NFL for the first time and has already lamented the difficulty of trying to evaluate
free-agent talent without getting to know the players, a process made more difficult by COVID-19
restrictions. Much different than the lengthy and personal recruiting process that takes place in
college.
"You’re talking about organizational decisions made by people, (and) there’s chances we have not
spent much time with (the players), and to be honest with you, I don’t feel great about that,"
Meyer said last month.
Already the Jaguars signed running back Carlos Hyde, who played for Meyer at Ohio State in 2012-13. Could
other former Buckeyes follow?
"He’s a great resource to have, being so close with him," said linebacker Pete Werner, who had
a chance to catch up with Meyer on Tuesday. "I think we do (have an advantage), just because he
seen all our work, he knows the culture here at Ohio State, he knows how we work. Him seeing us today in
person, it clarified it for the rest of his staff. I do think we might have an edge, but you never
know."
The player with the highest profile Tuesday was quarterback Justin Fields, like Lawrence expected to be
an early first-round pick. He was not, however, a Meyer recruit. Fields starred for two years under
coach Ryan Day, who had lured him as a transfer from Georgia right after Meyer departed.
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AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long contributed.
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Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy

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