Elite juniors comment on Meyer hire

It’s finally official.

Five-star ATH Jalin Marshall says it's a, "big step for the Buckeyes."

According to ESPN, Urban Meyer has accepted the job as the next coach at Ohio State.

Meyer has Rock Star status in the college football recruiting world, and the Buckeyes should naturally close out the class of 2012 with a bang.

In 2013, with it being a deep and talented year in Ohio, and with Meyer’s national reputation, Ohio State will likely be in the mix for the nation’s top class.

247Sports will be tracking down many of the top juniors across the country for comment.

“Big step for the Buckeyes,” five-star athlete/quarterback Jalin Marshall said on Monday morning. Ohio State has been the team to beat for him with Notre Dame providing the biggest competition. “Doesn’t change anything I see about them.”

Another five-star Ohio State is strongly in the mix for is Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers outside linebacker Jaylon Smith. Besides the Buckeyes, he's entertaining offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Indiana and Purdue.

Sounds like Meyer's hiring helps Ohio State with Smith.

“Tremendously,” Smith stated. His older brother Rod is a red-shirt freshman running back/linebacker in Columbus. “He’s a great coach. He has a lot of experience. I’ve been getting in touch with my brother, and it’s cool, and he’s going to do his job wherever they put him at. I’ll be ready to go.

“I’m not sure on what decision I’m going to make, but I’m going to keep my options open,” Smith continued. “There is going to come a point where I have to figure out where I want to go.”

Bear (Del.) Red Lion Christian blue-chipper Kenny Bigelow is ranked as the nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle and No. 9 prospect overall. His early offers are from the likes of Auburn, Oklahoma, Oregon, UCLA and USC.

“I always liked Coach Meyer when I first started watching college football and I saw all the magic at Florida,” Bigelow said. “I would love to play for him some day."

Ohio State is one of the many programs that has an offer out to Somerville (N.J.) Immaculata defensive end Tashawn Bower.

"It puts more positive thoughts in my mind about Ohio State," Bower said. "He's obviously a great coach and will do great things for the program. I think Ohio State is a program that always excels on and off the field.

Ranked as the nation's No. 4 weak-side defensive end and No. 99 prospect overall, Bower's other scholarships are from top schools such as Florida State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek cornerback Shaq Wiggins has Michigan as his early leader and nearly committed to the Wolverines this past Saturday on his visit to Ann Arbor. However, the nation's No. 13 player at his position and No. 171 prospect overall, reports an Ohio State offer and plans to look more into the program.

"A lot of athletes will think a second time about Ohio State," Wiggins said. "I think it's a very good move and Ohio State could be the next hot spot."

Hudson (Ohio) High four-star athlete Ben Gedeon also has Michigan as his leader over offers from Penn State, Michigan State, Boston College, Purdue and Tennessee.

“Obviously he’s a great coach and does a great job with recruiting and turning around programs,” Gedeon said. He is ranked as the nation's No. 17 athlete and No. 212 prospect overall. “I’ll definitely talk to him a little bit and probably look at Ohio State a little more than I was.”

Other top in-state juniors are equally excited, if not more.

"Ohio State will return to top power," Youngstown Fitch offensive tackle Billy Price stated. He holds offers from the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Nebraska, and checks in as the nation's No. 10 offensive tackle and No. 52 prospect overall.

"I believe that hiring Urban Meyer is a great addition to the program and it would be great to meet or even play for him," Dayton Trotwood-Madison linebacker/tight end Michael McCray said. Tabbed as the nation's No. 14 athlete and No. 191 prospect overall, the Ohio State legacy has early offers from Purdue, Syracuse and Tennessee.

"If anything, it makes me want to go there more," Huber Heights Wayne offensive lineman Lovell Peterson said. Illinois has offered the nation's No. 2 center prospect and No. 174 prospect overall.

"It makes a difference," Avon High cornerback/running back Ross Douglas said. Holding offers from Connecticut, Minnesota and Tennessee, he is ranked as the nation's No. 28 running back and No. 241 prospect overall. "Urban Meyer is one of the best coaches in the nation and my thoughts on Ohio State remain the same. Ohio State is Ohio State no matter what!"

"The Buckeyes will always be a great school no matter who the coach is, but Coach Meyer is a great coach and I think he'll definitely bring Ohio State back to its winning ways," Pickerington (Ohio) Central outside linebacker Taco Charlton said. He checks in as the nation's No. 5 player at his position and No. 115 prospect overall. Michigan currently leads for Charlton over his other offers from Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Purdue, Syracuse and UCLA.

“I think it makes the Buckeyes more appealing,” Centerville High offensive tackle Evan Lisle said. He is the country's No. 26 offensive tackle and No. 206 prospect overall. “I think that I will definitely be watching Ohio State closer.”

"My thoughts on the Buckeyes after Coach Meyer became coach at Ohio State is no different then what I had thought previous to his acceptance," Columbus Bishop Hartley tight end Jacob Matuska said. The country's No. 4 tight end and No. 80 prospect overall has early offers from Cincinnati and Toledo. "I believe that the Buckeyes are a team that has been successful and have the ability to be successful in the years to follow. Ohio State is going up and will continue to do so. I believe Coach Meyer can do great things at the Ohio State University, and I think his intentions are to do so. He is a great coach and it is a great program."

Two more of the nation's most sought after offensive lineman will also be watching Ohio State closer.

"I'm really excited about Coach Meyer accepting the job," Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis standout Kyle Bosch said. Holding several offers from the likes of Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Stanford, he is the nation's No. 11 offensive tackle and No. 55 prospect overall. "I'm definitely going to take another look at Ohio State sometime this December."

"It definitely peeks my interest," Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny's Patrick Kugler said. The country's No. 19 offensive tackle and No. 182 prospect overall, he has scholarships from several places including Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Penn State, Michigan State, Stanford, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. "They're definitely are going to have great recruiting and they're going to keep up there winning ways. I definitely have interest in Ohio State and this just helps."

Ohio State is at the top of the board for Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central linebacker Tim Kimbrough, who is equally excited that Luke Fickell is going to remain on the Buckeyes staff. Kimbrough is the country's No. 3 inside linebacker and No. 60 prospect overall, with offers from Cincinnati, North Carolina and Purdue.

"They're going to be great now," Kimbrough said. "I think it would be really exciting to play for him because he always wins championships wherever he goes."