One to Watch: Cincinnati 2017 DT Jeremy Meiser Drawing Top Recruiting Interest

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There are certain regional pockets all over the country that area coaches absolutely have to hit hard year after if a winning team is expected to be put together on the collegiate gridiron. In California, Los Angeles, Orange County, and the bay area, in Texas coaches have to hit Dallas and Houston, in Florida Miami and Jacksonville, in Georgia there is always Atlanta, and in Ohio there is Cincinnati.

When the 2016 recruiting class finished signing their letters of intent, at least 19 players went to Division-I schools highlighted by defensive end Prince Sammons (Auburn), offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer (Notre Dame), running back Jeremy Larkin (Northwestern), and tight end Noah Davis (Michigan State). A handful of schools in the area produce the majority of the talent with Elder, Colerain, La Salle, and St. Xavier being in the mix. Another school is seemingly always putting top players to the next level – Archbishop Moeller.

Last season Moeller helped send tight end Jake Hausmann to Ohio State, quarterback Thomas MacVittie to Pitt, lineman Ryan Smith to Indiana, and kicker Matt Coghlin to Michigan State. The 2017 class at Moeller could easily send another four to D-I schools with tight end Matt Dotson and offensive lineman Samari Saddler getting a lot of early attention along with another rising start, defensive tackle Jeremy Meiser.

Meiser earned his way into a starting spot with the Fighting Crusaders in 2015 after watching Class of 2015 defensive tackle Elijah Taylor tear up the opposition before signing with Notre Dame. As the season progressed, Meiser quickly got into the rhythm and flow of playing down in the trenches learning how to fight off double-teams, keep linemen off his linebackers, and put pressure on the quarterback as needed.

College coaches have started to come around with Ball State and Eastern Michigan both extending offers over the last couple of weeks. Interest is building in the 6’3”, 275 pound, bruiser with Toledo, University of Ohio, Old Dominion, and Northern Illinois starting to lay the foundation of a relationship in possible hopes of steering another Moeller talent to yet another Division-I school.

In a Recruiting New Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Meiser covering his junior season, his offseason workout and camp schedule while getting a recruiting news update.

Interview

Jeremy, after a really strong junior season for Moeller, what are your strengths on the field as a defensive tackle?

“I think I’m quick off the ball and I can hold my position against an offensive lineman trying to reach me. I’m good at reading the play, getting off double-team blocks, and I’m good at the fundamentals.”

What about against the pass and the run?

“I think my run defense is one of my strengths. I can take on offensive linemen. On passing downs, I think I had three or four pass deflections this year, I did well there. With my pass rush, I’m good at that but working on getting better. Last year I focused more on run defense, that’s what we would see most of the time. I thought I did fairly well with my pass rush but working on getting better for this year. I think I was one of our better pass rushers last season.”

You mentioned some of the things you are working on in the offseason with your pass rush, what are some of the other things you are working?

“One thing that I’m working on is coming off the ball on run defense differently. Instead of holding him up, I’m working on driving him back one yard and reading the offense that way. So if I get a tackle it is not on the line but a tackle for a loss. I’m working on taking a few steps up the field off the snap.”

Your reel shows that you have the strength to stand up the guys in front of you. What is your bench press, squat, and power clean max?

“I tested last month. My bench was 350, my squat was 505, and my power clean was 285.”

What are your weight room goals for the offseason?

“For bench, I really want to be around the 400 mark, 390-400 somewhere around there. For squat, I’d like to be around 550, maybe a little over. With power clean, over 300.”

What is the best 40-yard dash time you’ve posted?

“Going into my junior year I ran a 5.06 or a 5.08. I’m working on improving my speed this offseason too, more on my hips and change of direction with agility drills.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“Individually, I’d like to be first team All-GCL (Greater Catholic League). I was second team last year, and maybe defensive lineman of the year. I’d also like to get around the eight sack range. As a team, I’d like us to win GCL and go undefeated. State is a big thing for us. We won state my freshman year. I’d like for us to win again my senior year.”

Will we see you on the offensive side of the ball next season?

“I don’t know. I played fullback on a couple of plays last year. They have brought up me playing on the offensive line but nothing is concrete. I might have to play both ways depending on who develops. I’m willing to play. That’s more time on the field for me.”

Are you going to any camps coming up?

“I have not schedule any camps yet. I plan on having that conversation with my coaches, let them tell me which camps they think is best for me. Moeller comes first with my camp schedule.”

Who do you have offers from right now?

“I got my first offer from Ball State two weeks ago and my second from Eastern Michigan on Saturday. It is so relieving getting offers.”

What other schools are showing interest in you right now?

“I’m going to Old Dominion coming up. I’ve been talking to their coaches a lot. I’m taking a trip to Coastal Carolina. Toledo, Northern Illinois, and Ohio University have been showing interest, and I’ve had quick conversations with Ivy League schools and Navy on Twitter. Those are the big ones right now.”

What are the college coaches telling you they like about your game?

“They like my explosiveness and my motor. Ball State said that I have a good pass rush. Coach (Keith) McKenzie, Ball State’s defensive line coach, likes how I get off the ball. Most schools are looking at me as 1 or 3 technique. I think Ball State said a 3 and Eastern said a 1.”

What are the main factors you will consider in choosing a college?

“The first thing I look at with a football program is the coaches. If I’m spending four to five years with these people I want coaches I can trust. The other thing I look at is their academics. Every school I’ve been to tells me they have the best academic program for my major. As long as it is good and they have the majors I’m thinking about is all I care about. I also look at how I see myself fitting into it the school.”

What unofficial visits have you been on?

“In the fall I went to IU (Indiana) for a game. I’ve been to Toledo’s Junior Day, Miami of Ohio, Western Kentucky, Ball State, and Eastern Michigan.”

With all of the schools and programs you’ve visited, what is one of the main things that has caught your attention about the college experience?

“One thing I noticed, it seems like colleges set up workouts and practices in the same style as Moeller. All of these guys are great athletes competing against each other for a starting spot. Everyone is trying to get on the field. The level of competition is much greater at the college level.”

You mentioned being interested in different majors, what majors are you interested in for your degree?

“Something around business, marketing, or sales. I’m currently in an internship with a non-profit called United for Uganda. After spending a year in this internship, I’m getting class credit for it through Moeller, I’ve enjoyed the networking, filling out reports, and sales aspects of the position.”

What is your current GPA?

“Moeller does things a little bit different than most other schools. Our scale is not the same. I think my average is at an 89.5 or a 90.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“No. I’m taking the ACT on April 9.”

Are you playing any other sports for Moeller?

“No. I was playing rugby but I’ve stopped playing that to focus on football. That was a tough decision. I was first team All-Ohio last year as a sophomore.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“My favorite part is the whole idea of a group of people working together going through all the same training facing another team doing the same thing. The teams come together clashing against another to see who is better. It’s like a mini battle out there.”

Jeremy, thanks for your time today. Good luck with your upcoming test and on your unofficial visits.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: scout.com; No. 95 Jeremy Meiser in action

Photo credit: Twitter.com; No. 95 Jeremy Meiser on the field

Photo credit: Meiser family; Jeremy at Miami of Ohio