Urban Meyer wanted Dwayne Haskins badly.

How badly?

Well, it was reported that Haskins was Meyer’s top-rated QB in the 2016 class. Ohio State lacked a quarterback throughout most of the 2015-16 recruiting season, and Meyer put on the full-court press to get the four-star quarterback to flip from Maryland.

When Haskins announced he had changed his commitment to Ohio State in January, Meyer got his quarterback of the future. But he admittedly didn’t think his guy was college-ready.

“Originally, I thought Dwayne would be a redshirt candidate,” Meyer said on Bruce Feldman’s “The Audible” podcast. “When I first started recruiting him two years ago, he was very skinny. Then about three weeks ago, I saw him work out.

“I’ve been blessed to be around some incredible quarterbacks. But he’s the best that I’ve seen at his age since I’ve been coaching.”

That’s high praise, to say the least. Take a look back at Meyer’s quarterback recruits. That list includes the likes of Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Cam Newton. All three of those guys wound up as first-round NFL draft picks.

RELATED: Way-too-early 2016 look: Ohio State

Haskins, Meyer said, has the ability to make plays with his legs that few can while possessing all of the physical tools to be an elite quarterback.

“His release, his arm strength, his size — he’s so much bigger than he was a couple years ago — and his footwork,” Meyer said. “He’s so well-coached. We have such admiration for his technique.”

There won’t be any battle for the starting job, which will belong to J.T. Barrett. But Meyer said that he thinks Haskins could easily end up landing the backup job and not redshirting as a true freshman.

And if Meyer’s words prove true, it won’t be long before Haskins is making a major impact for the Buckeyes.