Ohio State’s Friday Night Lights camp impresses top recruits

After the camp’s recent success, when you think of Friday Night Lights on the campus of Ohio State, the long list of elite talent on hand might be the first thing that comes to mind. This year proved no different.

While names like Tyjon Lindsey, Emory Jones, and others headlined the list of recruits on hand for the now annual event, a large number of prospects with college scholarship offers on the table flocked to Columbus for their chance to work alongside Urban Meyer and his staff.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be down on the field? Land-Grant Holy Land caught up with the following Friday Night Lights campers, and had them break down their experience getting taught by some of the best in the business in the Ohio State coaching staff:

2017 ATH Markquese Bell

Hometown: Bridgeton,NJ/Bridgeton

Size: 6’3/195

Offers: Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Rutgers, etc.

Thoughts: “It was a great camp with great competition, and the staff was awesome.”

2017 ATH Lynn Bowden

Hometown: Youngstown/Warren G. Harding

Size: 6’1/185

Offers: Kentucky, Penn State, Indiana, West Virginia, etc.

Thoughts: “It was great. It was an awesome time. When I was competing, it was all eyes on me. That’s what stood-out. I talked to Coach Meyer himself. He said he’ll be in touch, and told me I was his guy.”

2018 LB Christopher Oats

Hometown: Cincinnati/Winton Woods

Size: 6’4/215

Offers: Ohio State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, etc.

Thoughts: “The Friday Night Light camp was amazing. One of the few experiences that stood-out with Urban Meyer and the staff is being coached by Coach (Luke) Fickell one-on-one.”

2017 CB Darrick Forrest

Hometown: Columbus/Walnut Ridge

Size: 6’0/170

Offers: Ball State, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Ohio, etc.

Thoughts: “The camp was great to me. I got a lot of reps and work in. I was surprised when they said we had a strength and conditioning period. I’ve never worked out during a camp before. I didn’t talk to Coach Meyer too much. Coach Coombs really enjoyed watching me. He coached me up a lot after I did one-on-ones and he liked the way I competed and took reps. He said he would come see me play in the fall.”

2018 DE Alex Reigelsperger

Hometown: Dayton/Wayne

Size: 6’4/235

Offers: Kentucky, Iowa, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, etc.

Thoughts: “The Friday Night Lights camp was intense. Super-super intense. More intense than The Opening Regional, honestly. It stood out that Coach Johnson and Meyer took the time to get away from everything and meet and talk to my family and myself. That was special. They love me and the way I play. They can’t wait to get me back up for games and have me for times to comes. They’d like for me to come up for an individual visit so Coach Meyer and Johnson can have more time to sit down and meet my family.”

2019 OL Devontae Dobbs

Hometown: Belleville,MI/Belleville

Size: 6’4/270

Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Michigan State, etc.

Thoughts: “It went great. The No. 1 thing that stood out was the enthusiasm the team has. They said they’re very interested and that they want me to stay in touch with them after they offered me.”

2019 DL Jacob Lacey

Hometown: Bowling Green,KY/South Warren

Size: 6’2/290

Offers: Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, etc.

Thoughts: “Coach (Larry) Johnson is a great coach that really and truly cares about his players, and is a great person. The facilities of the school are amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it, and the coaches there know how to develop you as a person and as a player. I met with Coach Meyer and he is really interested in his recruits. We spoke for a while and he seems like the perfect coach. The campus was amazing and the education is awesome as well the atmosphere of that school was perfect. Overall cCach Johnson taught me pass rushing skills and techniques I’ve never learned before. I have much respect for Coach Johnson and the entire coaching staff.”

2018 WR Paul Woods

Hometown: Buffalo, NY/Canisius

Size: 6’1/160

Offers: Boston College

Thoughts: “I thought that camp was a great experience and I really enjoyed myself. With my performance I felt that besides Tyjon Lindsey, I was the best wide receiver. I had a chance to speak with coach Mark Pantoni. He told me to keep in contact and that he would love to see my first few games film. I also spoke with the wide receivers Coach Zach Smith, and he told me I did great in camp and to send in film.”

2018 TE Anthony Torres

Hometown: Mishawaka,IN/Penn

Size: 6’6/235

Offers: Significant interest

Thoughts: “The camp was awesome. I loved competing against some of the best talent. The things that stood out to me on top of the facilities and all was how much they paid attention to life after football and careers they prepare their players for once they graduate and football is all over with.”

2018 CB Isaiah Watson

Hometown: Towson,MD/Calvert Hall

Size: 5’10/160

Offers: Ball State, Toledo, etc

Thoughts: “The Ohio State Friday Night Lights camp was the best camp I have ever been to. Urban Meyer and the OSU staff gave us very inspiring words of wisdom that helped me become a better football player.”