Director of Player Development Ryan Stamper leaves Ohio to join Urban Meyer with Jacksonville Jaguars

Urban Meyer brought the Jacksonville native with him to Ohio state in 2012, and now he’s hired Stamper into his new Jaguars staff. He will join the NFL’s first head coach as director of player evaluation in a move first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and confirmed by Eleven warriors.

Stamper has spent the past nine years working in player development for the football program, and has served as Assistant Athletic Director for Player Development for the past three years.

Working off the pitch, Stamper has been instrumental in keeping Ohio State soccer players on track – helping them with academics and other non-soccer concerns – while often serving as their resource of choice for them. a variety of situations. He has worked extensively to keep the program away from being known as a “football factory” by coordinating the Real Life Wednesday program, created during Meyer’s tenure, which includes a career fair, guest speakers, and support for development. creation of curriculum vitae. He also helped players get internships and make connections with companies that could hire them after their football careers were over.

Ion thinks people realize how much of an impact Stamp makes! This one hurts

– Teradja Mitchell (@teeraaw__) January 15, 2021

While Stamper felt comfortable enough with Ryan Day to stay on the staff when he became head coach in December 2018, there was always the possibility that he would find his way back to Meyer if he returned to the profession of ‘coach.

Stamper played linebacker for Meyer’s Florida Gators in the late 2000s, winning two national championships and twice as a team captain. He won the Forrest K. “Fergie” Ferguson Award – which goes to the senior who “shows leadership, character and courage” – his final year with the Gators. After a year as a police officer in Florida, Stamper joined Meyer’s Ohio State staff to help with player development.

Now, after nine years in Columbus, he will return to his hometown of Jacksonville, join Meyer and make his foray into the NFL.

Stamper is expected to be the only Ohio State staff member to join Meyer in Jacksonville. During Meyer’s introductory press conference on Friday, Meyer said “there could be one” when asked if he hires Ohio State staff, but said he promised Ryan Day and Gene Smith that he would not wreck the Buckeyes’ staff.

“I spoke to Gene and I spoke to Coach Day, and you know my affection for these two guys and the great university that we stood for, and I won’t do that,” Meyer said.