Urban Meyer Rumors: Hire of Storied Coach Would Catapult Ohio State

Let's be clear: the hiring of legendary head coach Urban Meyer wouldn't single-handedly make troubled Ohio State rise again.

But his hire, combined with the fact that Ohio State is still in high standing for some top recruits, could pave the way for the Buckeyes' emergence onto the national scene once again.

There have already been rumors that Meyer has accepted the Ohio State job, but he has refuted these claims.

What Meyer has said is that he misses football after stepping down in January, citing his health and desire to be more with his family.

Meyer continues to make it clear his health and family come first, but he also conceded to The Gainesville Sun that he's seen a handful of coaches be able to juggle both rather efficiently.

He also said, via USA Today:

"

I'm in a good place right now mentally and physically. So if something happens with Ohio State, I'll have a decision to make. But there has been no interview. There has been no offer to make a decision about.

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There have also been rumors of Meyer looking at Penn State following the scandal and the firing of Joe Paterno.

In both cases, he would be taking over troubled programs in dire need of a spark.

Given he led Florida to two national championships, there's no doubting Meyer has that ability.

The Ohio State job, however, appears to be in the crosshairs, according to multiple sources close to the school. And it would be a godsend for the Buckeyes.

First off, despite the Buckeyes dropping their last two games against Purdue and then-No. 21 Penn State, they undoubtedly surprised some people earlier this season when they beat then-No. 16 Illinois and then-No. 15 Wisconsin.

They did this with a freshman quarterback in Braxton Miller, who has been held on a leash all season long.

The Buckeyes have won big games with a running back-by-committee approach, including Miller, who leads the team with 595 yards rushing and has six rushing touchdowns on the season.

They've also won with some good performances from the defense, although the unit has been inconsistent, evidenced by some troubles tackling down the stretch.

Nonetheless, this is a young team with plenty of room for growth, particularly in Miller's case, who came to Ohio State as one of the top quarterbacks prospects in college football.

There's also Ifeadi Odenigbo, one of the top defensive end prospects in the nation, who just so happens to have grown up outside of Dayton in Centerville (Centerville has historically been a gold mine for Ohio State).

Odenigbo paid an unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend and said he was impressed by the atmosphere, comparing it to Notre Dame, another school he's looking at.

He also said Ohio State is in the running for his final two official visits, along with Cal, UCLA and USC.

Meyer, one of the great college football coaches of all time, would be a big enough boost for the Buckeyes, still hurting from Jim Tressel's departure.

But there are also some signs that this team could be much better next season as a whole.

Combined with Meyer's excellence, Ohio State could be set for a comeback campaign in 2012.

Perhaps Meyer may even be introduced at halftime of the Ohio State-Duke game on Nov. 29, as Clay Travis' sources tell him.