Ad Disclosure
Meyer addresses QB battle, Miller as starting H-back
Published:
By now, Urban Meyer knows that he’ll inevitably get asked about his quarterback battle at every press conference leading up to the Sept. 7 opener at Virginia Tech.
And on Saturday, he gave an update. Sort of.
“They’re neck and neck,” Meyer said at his press conference. “I really thought in my mind two days ago that one guy was starting to move ahead of the other. Then, guess what today is?”
The Buckeye coach again declared that he wouldn’t release the starter until Virginia Tech. He said he hadn’t graded them yet for the day’s practice, just that it was an even race.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Meyer did talk about a couple of former signal-callers. Braxton Miller, who made the switch to H-back this offseason, was held out of practice on Saturday with a tight hamstring but he should be back on Monday.
Meyer said he’s “developing a routine” at his new position. Right now, he said Miller isn’t ready to start, but that he’s hoping he’ll be ready come Sept. 7.
“My plan is to try to get him ready to do that,” Meyer said.
Another converted quarterback, Torrance Gibson, is also looking to carve out a role at a skill position. The five-star true freshman was listed among the Buckeyes’ five options at receiver.
“Torrance is scratching the surface, too, right now,” Meyer said.
Another true freshman, Mike Weber, was hoping to earn playing time behind Ezekiel Elliott in his first season in Columbus. But he suffered a torn meniscus and will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks.
Meyer said he’s walking without crutches, and the 2015 season isn’t out of the question.
“There’s a chance we won’t redshirt him,” Meyer said. “He had a really good camp up to that point.”
Meyer said Sam Hubbard currently has the edge to start at defensive end in the opener, which is where the Buckeyes will need a replacement for preseason All-American Joey Bosa.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.