COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer's address to hundreds of Ohio State boosters at the team's spring kickoff luncheon Wednesday, which raised money for Alzheimer's and cancer research, included the Buckeyes' coach five times saying a player was among the most improved of spring practice.

Those five?

Receiver/H-back Dontre Wilson

Tight end Nick Vannett

Linebacker Curtis Grant

Linebacker Joshua Perry

Cornerback Doran Grant

Meyer gave a rundown of each position group on offense and defense during his remarks to the fans. Much of what he said echoed what he's already told reporters during the spring, with the Buckeyes having completed nine practices. They have five more before the spring game on April 12.

But it's always interesting to hear whom Meyer chooses to single out.

Meyer said Wilson was the Buckeyes' best playmaker on offense right now. He said he wouldn't trade his top two tight ends for anyone in America, and reinforced his confidence in Vannett, who is on his own for now after Jeff Heuerman's foot surgery.

Meyer said the problematic linebacker position is "becoming a strength," thanks in large part to the improvement of Perry and Grant.

And he said at corner, Doran Grant has all the talent in the world and Meyer expects him to make All-Big Ten as a senior.

Meyer also addressed the end of last season, saying that mentor and former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, who was also in attendance, insisted Meyer not focus on the negative of the two losses and talk about the success of last year.

"We hit a speed bump, and I've gotten a little better. Seven years ago I would have tried to jump off the side of the Horseshoe after those losses," Meyer said. "That's not the way it is."

Here are some other highlights from Meyer and the other OSU assistants and players who spoke briefly on Wednesday.

Urban Meyer

On the offense a year ago: "We had a heckuva offense a year ago. We're working on this year trying to be a little bit better balanced. We had the best running back in America and the best offensive line. That's what we were."

On Braxton Miller: "We look forward to having Braxton rewrite every record book in the history of Ohio State."

On Cardale Jones: "Cardale Jones is a guy who had a one-way bus ticket back to Cleveland a year ago. His whole approach to academics, to his lifestyle and to Ohio State football has changed."

On freshman Curtis Samuel, who has been working in at running back and H-back: "The name that has surfaced a little bit is Curtis Samuel. He's got speed and toughness and athleticism and that's what we look for."

On the defensive line: "I'll be disappointed if we don't have the best or one of the best defensive lines in college football."

On redshirt freshman Gareon Conley: "Gareon Conley is a name to remember. He's shown flashes of being a cornerback like we expect to have around here."

Offensive line coach Ed Warinner

"We have to find alternative ways to move the football outside of just letting the big boys up front go eat and give the ball to Carlos Hyde and go. We have to diversify, which is good for us."

Offensive lineman Joel Hale on his move from defense as a senior

"I felt I had plateaued and I feel moving has really energized my love of football."

Secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash

Meyer, in introducing Ash, said the three things the new coach would be graded on were recruiting, improving the pass defense and how he did speaking at the luncheon. Ash responded by saying that Meyer only told him Wednesday morning he was speaking, so if he didn't do well, it wasn't his fault.

Ash then began with a story about stepping on the Block O on the floor in the middle of the weight room and strength coach Mickey Marotti making him do pushups. The other two no-nos he has learned?

"Don't wear blue to work. And the other thing, when talking about That Team Up North, don't use the M word," Ash said. "In Coach Meyer terms, that's going to be a bad day. So I won't use the M word or wear blue to work."

On the defense: 'We want to structure our defensive scheme to challenge the receivers and challenge every throw every single play. The kids are playing very hard and it's becoming a habit."

In introducing Michael Bennett, Ash said that every time he sees Bennett in the hallway, he looks like an angry man. Ash then asked Bennett to speak about the defense and Bennett said, "First of all, I'm not really that angry."

Ash also made Gareon Conley do his impression of cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, which included Conley putting out his hands, bending his knees and in a strained whisper, almost begging, "Run to the ball."

It wasn't a bad impersonation.