Ahmir Mitchell Wears Urban Meyer's Ring, Dines with Jim Harbaugh During Visits

Ahmir Mitchell stood in a hallway of Ohio State's football facilities Friday, face-to-face with the current king of college football.

It seemed an ideal opportunity to snap a photo, but Urban Meyer raised the stakes.

“He put the ring on my finger, told me to hold it up like that and smile," Mitchell said. "When he first handed it to me, I almost dropped it. That’s how heavy it was.”

The ring, of course, was Meyer's reward for a 42-20 victory over Oregon in the inaugural College Football Playoff title game. For a moment, however, that Buckeye bling sat upon the finger of a high school junior from Southern New Jersey:

Mitchell, a 4-star wide receiver and longtime Meyer target, spent this past weekend with two of the country's most historic football programs: Ohio State and Michigan. His chance to wear one of the Buckeyes' freshly forged championship rings took place on the first day of that journey and would undoubtedly be difficult to top.

“It was pretty amazing to see and wear something of that stature," he said. "When I make a college decision, it motivates me to want to play for a team that I can help get something like that.”

Meyer, if you aren't aware, owns three such rings. A pair were procured through thrilling runs at Florida; the latest was earned at the end of an unpredictable and injury-filled 2014 campaign.

The veteran leader's background precedes any introduction for someone who follows the sport, and Meyer knows it.

“Not one time did he mention championships or anything of that nature," Mitchell said. "He didn’t really get into what they’ve done in previous years. I would call that stuff self-explanatory. The focus was more about what they’re working on for the future, which shows a lot about his character.”

The 6'2", 190-pound prospect arrived in Columbus on Friday as part of a New Jersey contingent headlined by top overall 2016 recruit Rashan Gary (defensive tackle). The group also included 4-star defensive end Ron Johnson, 4-star wide receiver Brad Hawkins and impressive 2017 defensive tackle Corey Bolds. 

Mitchell, Hawkins, Johnson and Gary are among the Buckeyes' biggest targets in this cycle. Ohio State already holds a commitment from New Jersey running back Kareem Walker, who is considered the top player at his position, and Meyer's latest recruiting class is currently listed fourth nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings.

The team picked up a pledge from 4-star offensive playmaker Demario McCall during the weekend.

“It’s outstanding to see Ohio State recruiting guys who can replace the talent they have now," Mitchell said. "It shows the dedication they have to bringing in players who can compete for more national championships in the future.”

Those recruiting efforts have resulted in top-10 classes every year since Meyer's arrival. This abundance of talent helped create the depth that shined during Ohio State's most recent title chase, especially at quarterback.

“The three quarterbacks he has competing now could all be Heisman candidates, so getting the ball to receivers isn’t going to be a problem," Mitchell said. "The two freshman quarterbacks they have coming in [Joe Burrow and Torrance Gibson] also sound promising, which is great from my aspect. You don’t have to worry about quarterback when you go to Ohio State.”

He actually had an opportunity to speak with star passers J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones during a practice:

Mitchell spent Friday evening at Eddie George's Grille 27, a restaurant owned by the Heisman Trophy-winning Ohio State running back. He sat alongside Gary and Bolds in the VIP area, sharing a table and conversation with reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Joey Bosa.

“It gave me a good look from the players’ view of how things are run there and how fun that national championship experience was for everyone," Mitchell said. "Bosa was very funny; he was joking around a lot and talking about some defensive line stuff with Rashan and Corey.”

Plenty of students and fans walked by to take pictures, according to Mitchell. It's another sign of the exuberance that currently surrounds Buckeyes football.

“The energy was special there because you can feel that championship atmosphere," Mitchell said. "It’s electric there during practice watching some of the best players in college football go against each other.”

The group made its way to Michigan on Saturday, where former Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic High School coach Chris Partridge now serves as recruiting director. Last season, he coached both Gary and Bolds, who picked up a Wolverines offer during his visit. 

Like Ohio State, Michigan attempted to sell the group on sticking together and developing strength in numbers at the next level.

“At the end of the day, both coaching staffs were definitely talking about trying to create that whole New Jersey pipeline," Mitchell said. "They talked about how exciting it would be to get all the best players from Jersey to Columbus or Michigan. It would be something special, and we all enjoyed the visits, but everyone has to make their own decision.”

The collection of Garden State standouts had a chance to develop relationships with new Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. His high-profile presence provides a bit of a "wow" factor for recruits and fans alike in Ann Arbor, according to Mitchell.

“Coach Harbaugh seemed like a normal guy, who is honest with you and didn’t mind shaking hands or taking pictures with people who came up to him on campus," he said. "It's very exciting to see how everyone feels about him at Michigan.”

The Wolverines have yet to land a 2016 commitment since Harbaugh took over the program, but Mitchell believes it's just a matter of time. The former San Francisco 49ers coach made a strong impact throughout the stay.

“He’s a great recruiter," Mitchell said. "He’s very hands-on and doesn’t like other people doing things for him. He was with us the entire visit. It was a lot of fun checking out campus, talking and spending so much time with a coach who has such a high reputation.”

After a day of facility tours and talks with coaches, the group dined on a mix of burgers, chicken and pizza while watching March Madness tournament action in Harbaugh's office.

“It was really cool to just kick back and enjoy a night like that with a coach of Habaugh’s stature and the other Jersey guys," Mitchell said. 

They followed that up with breakfast Sunday morning, fueling up before a nine-hour journey home:

Mitchell, rated sixth nationally among "athletes" and 88th overall in composite rankings, is widely viewed as a receiver. Michigan and Ohio State are each targeting him at the position.

He caught 47 passes for 872 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, per NJ.com, adding five rushing touchdown and a pair of kickoff return touchdowns.

Mitchell doesn't expect to make a decision before his senior season and is likely to take all five of his official visits. He told Bleacher Report that Ohio State and Michigan have solidified their respective spots on a top-six list that also features Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and Ole Miss.

“It meant a lot to see the atmospheres with my peers and experience both campus visits together," Mitchell said. "Ohio State and Michigan both proved to me that I’m a priority for them and I can come in and make a difference."

All quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.