Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord caused some surprise and confusion when he entered the transfer portal. Among those caught off guard was former Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer.
Meyer joined On3’s Tim May to share his reaction to the McCord news. The three-time national champion coach was simply dumbfounded.
“That made no sense,” Meyer said. “I’m still trying to comprehend it. I tried to take a position of Kyle or even Ohio State, and it just doesn’t compute.”
In his first season as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, McCord completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He wasn’t perfect, but he played well enough to help lead Ohio State to 11 wins and a berth into the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
Meyer thought Ohio State and McCord were a solid match and that the future was bright. But something led McCord to transfer.
“I’m trying to make it compute, because I want to be empathetic and I want to say, ‘OK, I understand.’ There’s no place better for Kyle than Ohio State. That place does not exist, unless he’s being guaranteed a starting spot,” Meyer said. “But once again, I don’t agree with that’s the best place. I think iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel. The best thing that anybody can ever do is go and compete your tail off, get better and maximize who you are as a player.”
Meyer insisted he’s “not ripping” McCord for the decision and admits he may have some biases, but the former coach truly believes the Buckeyes were the best place for McCord.
The 21-year-old has already met with Nebraska and there promises to be significantly more interest in the coming weeks. But in Meyer’s mind, there won’t be a better option or a better fit than Ohio State.
