Article published April 21, 2009
St. John's grad adjusting to OSU
Mewhort no longer always biggest guy on the field
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Mewhort
COLUMBUS - There's not usually a "low profile" option available to someone who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 290 pounds, but Jack Mewhort has found a place where he just sort of blends in with the surroundings.
The former standout for St. John's Jesuit is close to completing his first spring football practice period at Ohio State, and it became evident from the day he arrived that Mewhort was no longer casting the biggest shadow on the field.
"You go from high school and being the all-star and the biggest, strongest guy on the field, and then coming in here where you're just another one of the guys," Mewhort said last week as the Buckeyes worked out in preparation for Saturday's Scarlet & Gray Spring Game in Ohio Stadium.
"That's probably the biggest adjustment - the size and the strength and the speed of everybody else. It's all work - it's a physical game."
FB: Storm Klein and Jack Mewhort check in from Canton
Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
Release: 06/18/2009
Practice is underway for USA Football's Junior National Team. The team has completed its first days of practice in preparation for the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship beginning Saturday, June 27. Incoming Ohio State freshmen Storm Klein and Jack Mewhort will be checking in periodically in the days leading up to the championships.
Members of the team arrived at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, Saturday from 22 states, each soon to enter one of 33 college football programs. The team conducted its first practice Sunday afternoon, led by head coach Chuck Kyle of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School.
Jack Mewhort
Q: Is practice what you expected, so far?
A: Practice is awesome -- it's a lot of fun just bonding with the other offensive linemen. I play against Storm and it?s really competitive, but we?re having fun.
Q: Describe the level of competition out here.
A: Oh, it?s crazy. The defense is one of the fastest I?ve ever seen, the quarterbacks are great, the offensive line is really nasty so hopefully we?ll come out with the gold.
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your country?
A: It?s awesome, I?ve never had the opportunity to represent my country before, so this is great.
Q: Have you played up to your personal expectations in camp thus far?
A: I?ve struggled a little bit, just because I?m rusty in my pass protection and stuff like that. Once I get the hang of it again I will be just as competitive and start knocking people down.
Q: What are you learning from this experience?
A: I?m learning a lot of technique from all of these awesome coaches. It?s really great.
JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Focus on . . . Jack Mewhort
Friday, June 26, 2009
Each day leading up to and continuing through the inaugural Junior World Championship football tournament, Plain Dealer sports writer Tim Rogers will introduce you to one of the participants.
Name: Jack Mewhort.
Team: USA Football.
Hometown: Toledo.
High School: St. John's.
College: Ohio State.
Height: 6-6. Weight: 285.
Position: Center.
The lowdown: An All-Ohio center, he also alternated between tackle and guard. He was included in Super Prep Midwest's Top 25.
Q: Who are the greatest influences in your life?
A: My parents, Don and Gail.
Q: What is the greatest game you've ever played in?
A: A first-round playoff game my junior year. We played North Canton Hoover and the game went five overtimes and it rained the whole game. We lost, but it was an awesome game.
Q: What's your favorite spot in Toledo?
A: Probably the Toledo Zoo. It's nationally known.
Q: Hamburger or hot dog?
A: Hamburger.
Q: Steak or lobster?
A: Steak.
Q: Mexican or Chinese?
A: Mexican.
Q: What's on your iPod?
A: Mostly rock, like AC/DC and Ozzy Osbourne. But I also have stuff like Lil Wayne, just in case the mood strikes me.
Q: If you could be a rock star, who would you be?
A: Mick Jagger.
Q: What's your greatest fear?
A: Heights.
Q: Gatorade or Powerade?
A: Gatorade, lemon-lime.
Q: Have you ever given flowers to a girl?
A: No.
Q: If you could have dinner with any three people, who would you choose?
A: The guy who invented the wheel, Jesus and Browns lineman Joe Thomas.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want with you?
A: A recliner, plenty of sunscreen and my springer spaniels, Maggie and Lilly.
Q: How well do you adapt to change?
A: Not so good at first, but I usually adjust later on.
Q: What is your first football memory?
A: Playing tackle football in the fourth grade.
Q: Were you thinking about a college scholarship when you began playing?
A: No. I played because my dad made me. I was a fat, little kid.
Q: Who is the best teammate you ever had?
A: Tim Kynard at St. John's. He's at Illinois now.
Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is that "USA" across the front of your jersey?
A: 11
ysubuck;1489298; said:Not bad!
I love that he would want to be Mick Jagger.
But they also told him he could bring three things to the desert island and he chose 4. Need to get rid of one of those dogs because Lord knows he can't forgo the sunscreen!
Article published September 03, 2009
OSU's Mewhort a possible redshirt
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Mewhort
COLUMBUS - Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was purposefully noncommittal when asked this week about whether former St. John's Jesuit standout Jack Mewhort will play Saturday against Navy, or if the plan is to have Mewhort sit out this season as a redshirt.
Tressel has Mewhort listed as the backup to starting center Mike Brewster, but Mewhort has also worked at guard and tackle on the offensive line since enrolling at Ohio State in January and taking part in spring practice. The 6-6, 290-pound Mewhort also played all three positions in high school.
"Jack Mewhort is probably on the bubble in the offensive line," Tressel said about the likelihood of Mewhort playing against Navy. Tressel said
offensive line coach Jim Bollman has worked a number of different options up front through preseason camp, including playing Mewhort at his current position - center.
"He's in the two-deep [chart] but we'll see how that unfolds. One thing coach Bollman is comfortable with is this - we've got three or four guys that can play center. Sometimes you get nervous about you don't have enough centers, who can make the calls and snap the ball and all the rest, so Jack's been doing a good job in there."
Tressel said he expects a number of freshmen to play against Navy, including linebacker Dorian Bell, defensive back C.J. Barnett, linebacker Storm Klein, defensive tackle John Simon, offensive lineman Corey Linsley, tight end Reid Fragel, running back Jaamal Berry and wide receiver Duron Carter.
"Obviously, all of it's based on health and everything else," Tressel said. "You can activate a guy whenever you want to.
One [option] is developmental redshirt - you can activate a guy when you think he's ready - and as soon as he plays one play that counts as one year."
Article published September 29, 2009
St. John's grad may redshirt at Ohio State
Mewhort has dressed, but not played in '09
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Mewhort
COLUMBUS - The Ohio State football team is one-third of the way through the 2009 schedule, and freshman offensive lineman Jack Mewhort has been there for every practice, every workout, and every team meeting the Buckeyes have held.
Mewhort has been there for all four games, he's been suited up, knee braces on and helmet in hand. But because the more veteran Ohio State linemen have played well and for the most part avoided injury, Mewhort's debut with the Buckeyes (3-1) might wait until the 2010 season.
"Right now, it looks like I'll probably redshirt this year, and I don't have a problem with that," Mewhort said recently. Redshirting allows freshmen players to use their first year to practice and travel with the team, gain strength, and get acclimated to the demands of college life without sacrificing a year of eligibility.
"When I decided to come here, I knew there was a chance I might play right away, and a good chance I would be able to redshirt. I saw it as a win-win kind of deal for me, so either way, it's a positive thing."
Mewhort was one of the most sought-after linemen in the country after an outstanding high school career at St. John's Jesuit, where he earned first team All-Ohio honors. He played center, guard and tackle for the Titans and was often the dominant player on the field.
After committing to Ohio State, Mewhort enrolled in January and got an early start with the Buckeyes. He participated in winter conditioning and spring practice while at Ohio State, and this past summer was named to the all-tournament team after helping the United States win the gold medal at the Junior World Championship held in Canton.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said Mewhort was "probably on the bubble on the offensive line" when Tressel was asked a couple of weeks ago about the likelihood of Mewhort playing for the Buckeyes this season. Since then, Ohio State seems to have settled in with a seven or eight man rotation to cover the five inside positions along the line.
For last Saturday's game against Illinois, Mewhort was listed third on the depth chart at center, although in practice he has worked at all three positions on the line. Starting center Mike Brewster, a sophomore from Florida who worked his way into the lineup last year as a true freshman, is backed up by senior Andrew Moses, who also serves as the backup to Bryant Browning at right guard.
Sophomore J.B. Shugarts is the starter at right tackle, while junior Justin Boren starts at left guard and sophomore Mike Adams or junior Andrew Miller start at left tackle. Browning plays both guard and tackle on the right side, while Miller plays both positions on the left side, and Moses plays center and guard, so OSU line coach Jim Bollman has a variety of options.
"One thing coach Bollman is comfortable with is this - we've got three or four guys that can play center," Tressel said. "Sometimes you get nervous about you don't have enough centers - guys who can make the calls and snap the ball and all the rest."
The Buckeyes were forced to shuffle their offensive line a bit two weeks ago when senior Jim Cordle injured his ankle, but Tressel and Bollman still have not had to tap into their cache of freshman talent on the line that includes Mewhort, Sam Longo, Corey Linsley, and Marcus Hall.
"There are a lot of great players here - a lot of veteran guys who can really play - so I won't be disappointed if I end up redshirting this year. That is the usual route for offensive linemen, so I'm great with that," Mewhort said.
"I look at it as a chance to learn more, get stronger and quicker, and just improve in every phase of the game. In a couple of years, I think I'll really appreciate the fact that I got that extra year, if that's what it works out to be."
Tressel said he tells his recruits to approach every practice with the intention of competing, and then let the decisions on redshirting be made at the appropriate time, after injuries and performance are evaluated.
"Obviously, all of it's based on health and everything else," Tressel said. "You can activate a guy whenever you want to."
Article published January 13, 2010
Sitting not fun, but beneficial for Ohio State football player
Mewhort says redshirt year has made him a better player
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Jack Mewhort, right, walks to practice with Storm Klein. Mewhort said it was tough redshirting, but it was a valuable time to learn.
( OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY )
As an escort of motorcycle cops split the omnipresent yarn ball of Los Angeles freeway traffic like the raised arms of Moses parting the Red Sea, Jack Mewhort looked out the windows of one of the luxury coaches transporting the Ohio State football team from its quarters in a posh Century City hotel to the practice facility the Buckeyes were using some 20 miles south of downtown in Carson, Calif.
Mewhort could hardly digest it all - California Highway Patrol in knee-high black leather boots and those nasty wrap-around sunglasses, sitting atop bright, white BMW bikes, a dinner at an upscale Beverly Hills restaurant, moving to the front of the line for the rides at Disneyland, fans and locals gawking and locked in on their every move.
"It was unreal - we got the star treatment everywhere we went," Mewhort said about the recent Ohio State Rose Bowl experience in greater L.A. That OSU star assumed a higher place in the college football sky after the Buckeyes went on to stop Oregon 26-17, winning a bowl game for the first time in four years.
