Two Minute Drill: Jones, Prince, Campbell At Big Ten Media Days

Big Ten Football Media Days are now done, but we learned a lot about Urban Meyer and the 2018 Buckeyes during those interviews.

Three players made the trip to represent the program. Seniors Isaiah Prince and Parris Campbell, and redshirt junior Dre’Mont Jones met with the media for nearly an hour each, answering questions on a wide variety of topics.

The event represents the only truly extended interview opportunity the media gets with individual players all year.

Which true freshman does drills to work on his one-handed catches?

How is Dwayne Haskins working to bond with his offensive linemen?

Which of the backup quarterbacks inspired Campbell to say, “he is going to be elite”?

Who really deserves the credit for landing OSU’s highest-rated recruit?

How did Cheetos nearly stand in the way of Jones becoming a better player?

Read on.

Parris Campbell

+ Freshman wide receiver Kamryn Babb tore his ACL during individual workouts earlier this summer and is expected to miss the 2018 season. Babb previously tore the ACL in his other knee. Wide receiver Parris Campbell said Babb is “a pure wideout” and that he’s going to be good once he’s healthy again.

+ Campbell called the dismissal of his position coach Zach Smith “devastating.” Campbell said it would be a huge loss for the wide receiver unit.

+ He had not spoken with Smith since the firing, but planned to reach out to him after he got back to Ohio. He also said the wide receiver unit planned to meet and “have a real dialogue” about the situation.

+ Campbell said that Brian Hartline, one of the potential replacements for Smith, was a great guy. He pointed to Hartline’s long NFL career and said that it was telling that Hartline was willing to come back to his alma mater and help teach the new crop of Buckeye wide receivers, even after a lucrative stint as a pro.

+ Campbell said Dwayne Haskins has really embraced his new role as a team leader. He said Haskins has changed a lot since last year, and has really come out of his shell. He also called Haskins an elite passer, saying there are great quarterbacks, and then there are ones who are truly unique. Haskins, he thinks, is the latter.

+ He absolutely raved about true freshman quarterback Matthew Baldwin, saying he “can absolutely sling it” and that Baldwin “is going to be elite.” Baldwin missed the spring while recovering from a knee injury, but could see action at some point this fall. Campbell said that Baldwin doesn’t talk much, but he looks like a natural leader and winner.

+ Campbell said that true freshman H receiver Jaelin Gill is “a little raw right now” but that Campbell can see a little of himself in Gill.

+ True freshman Jeremy Ruckert not only has great hands, but MASSIVE hands, according to Campbell. He described watching the freshman do a drill where he repeatedly caught passes one-handed.

+ Campbell described what the Buckeyes call ‘The Team Up North Drill.’ They do a certain number of situps, pushups, and other exercises that corresponds with the number of days left until the Ohio State vs. Michigan game.

Isaiah Prince

+ He has been working toward the goal of being selected as one of the players to represent the Buckeyes at Big Ten Media Days. He said he wasn’t too surprised to be selected.

+ Urban Meyer declined to say which tackle position Prince would play this fall, and Prince said he could play in either spot. However, he said he was more comfortable on the right side of the line.

+ Prince said the reaction from Buckeye fans to his struggles was pretty rough in 2016. He said someone went so far as creating a Facebook page titled “Isaiah Prince sucks.”

+ He said the 2016 Penn State game was a turning point for him. He said after that, he stopped paying attention to fans and media coverage about himself. He also said the environment the Buckeyes will face in Happy Valley in late September will be a challenging one for OSU’s young players.

+ Prince said he has improved tremendously as a right tackle since 2016. He specifically pointed to his footwork, and his ability to not get frustrated as areas where he made big strides.

+ He singled out true freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere as a future impact player. Prince hosted Petit-Frere on his official visit, and was more than happy to take credit for landing a commitment from the 5-star recruit.

+ Prince had high praise for redshirt freshman Josh Myers, calling him “a great young center.”

+ Much like Campbell, Prince said that Dwayne Haskins has done a good job embracing his new role as a team leader. Haskins has gone so far as to bringing the offensive linemen lunch at times.

Dre’Mont Jones

+ Urban Meyer said that Dre’Mont Jones would have the opportunity to play in pass rush situations this fall. Last year, Jones came off the field on most third downs as the Buckeyes substituted in their Rushmen package of defensive ends. This year, that won’t be the case. Jones was obviously excited about that. “I want to be on the field,” he said.

+ Jones was roommates with former Buckeye quarterback Joe Burrow for two years. When Burrow decided to transfer to LSU, he told Jones he was going to “have to bail” and leave.

+ He’s very high on Dwayne Haskins as well. He said Haskins brings the same kind of aerial attack as Cardale Jones did, but “not as goofy.”

+ Jones talked about his internship in May with the DEA.  He said that is something he could see himself doing in the future, but he’s young and he hasn’t thought much about life after football.

+ The older guys before him set the tone in the defensive line unit, but he’s seeing guys like Jonathon Cooper and Chase Young really step up.

+ On his decision to come back to Ohio State and play another year, Jones said he wanted to graduate and grow more as a player.

+ Jones only played football for two years in high school. Growing up, he wanted to be a basketball player. But as a football player his junior and senior years in high school, he played tight end and then defensive end.

+ On his growth as a player, Jones said he has been through so much that it would be hard to not grow. During his ACL injury he felt very alone, but now he is helping others who are in a similar situation.

+ Jones changed his daily routine and has been coming into the facility early to get in the hot tub and watch film. He also changed his diet, but had a hard time cutting out Cheetos.

+ He made it clear that he thinks Ohio State has the best D-Line in the country and they are going to perform like they are the best.

+ On the offensive side, guard Demetrius Knox is a guy that has improved significantly. He said he would be very surprised if Knox doesn’t see the field.

+ Jones said he feels like a leader now that he is the old guy and the most experienced guy in his unit. He wants to be a more vocal leader.

+ Jones commended Tate Martell on his speed. He also said he has been getting stronger.

+ One goal is to clean up the penalties and not let his emotions control him as much in those situations.