It took until midway through the season, but Ohio State finally has its starting quarterback. It is J.T. Barrett.
On Tuesday, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer announced Barrett will start for the Buckeyes this weekend when the defending national champions visit Rutgers in a Big Ten East Division game. Barrett proved his value to the Ohio State offense last weekend by providing a huge spark for the Buckeyes offense against Penn State. Cardale Jones struggled to throw accurate passes, and Barrett tossed t
Jones has a slightly higher completion percentage than Barrett this season, but he has also been picked off five times compared to his seven touchdowns. Barrett has thrived in red zone situations for Ohio State, including last weekend’s victory against Penn State. Barrett was four-for-four for 30 yards and two touchdowns when called upon, and he added 102 rushing yards and two more rushing touchdowns in the victory.
Ohio State entered the season with one of the more intriguing quarterback situations, and Jones had more than enough time to prove worthy of holding down the job after a miraculous championship run last season. Now Ohio State is going back to Barrett, who also put together a memorable run during the regular season last year. Already a team captain, Barrett is more than capable of guiding Ohio State on another title run, with Ezekiel Elliott and Braxton Miller chipping in as well. We probably have not seen the last of Jones in the Ohio State offense though. Odds are there may still be a role in Meyer’s offense for Jones, but entrusting the offense in the hands of Barrett as a regular and full-time starter seems like the-the right call as he has the hot hand right now in Columbus.
Now it will be up to Barrett to hold on to the job and give no reason for questions about possibly going back to Jones the rest of the way. Barrett is a big reason why Ohio State played for a national championship last season. Now he hopes to be able to finish the job an injury prevented him from fulfilling a year ago. That would be one incredible story.