The Ohio State University Buckeyes have the best problem in football — they have too many talented quarterbacks.
Braxton Miller, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, was unable to play this past season due to a shoulder injury aggravated during summer training. Miller’s original replacement, J.T. Barrett, was on pace for a Heisman Trophy nomination until he fractured his ankle on Nov. 29, 2014, just before the Big Ten title game. Then, after helping the Buckeyes eviscerate the University of Wisconsin in the conference championship by a score of 59-0, third-stringer Cardale Jones led OSU through the first-ever College Football Playoff. It defeated the No. 1 seeded University of Alabama in comeback fashion during the first round, and then did the same to the heavily favored No. 2 ranked University of Oregon in the National Title Game.
Many believed that after Jones’s tremendous play, he would be poised to enter the NFL draft. Though his performances in his three games were spectacular, Jones concluded, rather easily, that he should stay at Ohio State. “It was very simple for me,” Jones announced in a Jan. 15 press conference. “The NFL, after three games, was really out of the question for me.” His choice to stay at OSU further complicates the Buckeyes’ quarterback derby for next season.
OSU coach Urban Meyer must answer a very difficult question — which one of my talented quarterbacks should I start in 2015-16? As many professional teams like the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills yearn for one solid starting quarterback, Ohio State has three.
This question can clearly only be answered after training camp is held this summer. Additionally, Ohio State’s quarterback situation may change drastically before the start of next season. One would suspect that Meyer favors Miller, who has only lost two games as a starter at OSU. Although, due to newfound competition in Barrett and Jones, there is no guarantee he wins the starting spot, and he could realistically drop to become the new third-string quarterback.
Miller is an Ohio native and embraces competition, so there is a very good chance he remains in Columbus. However, it is also very possible he transfers. Let us consider the hypothetical situation, though, that Miller leaves Ohio State. Where does he go, and where does that leave the Buckeyes?
Rumors of Miller’s departure from Columbus have spread like wildfire. Jameis Winston’s departure from Florida State University opens the door for Miller in Tallahassee. A (healthy) year with the Seminoles under veteran coach Jimbo Fisher would mentally and physically prepare Miller for the NFL. Additionally, though, Miller has been linked to several other possible landing spots.
Louisiana State University is also an excellent fit for Miller. Combining Miller’s agility with Leonard Fournette’s raw talent would immediately place LSU’s offense at the nation’s top tier.
Other fun but highly doubtful possibilities include the University of Alabama and the University of Oregon. The Crimson Tide is always one of the top teams in the nation, and with Miller at the helm, it may be able to defeat the Buckeyes in a potential rematch. Similarly, picture a replay between the Ducks and Buckeyes — and picture Miller commanding Oregon’s powerhouse offense. These scenarios, though far-fetched, are fun to think about.
Continuing the hypothetical, where would the Buckeyes be without Miller? Meyer would still face a difficult decision. Should he go with the hot hand in Jones or the star power of Barrett?
Jones’s success was incredible, unexpected and clutch. The numbers he posted in his first-ever starts against the best competition in the nation are still hard to believe. He displayed his athleticism, his intelligence and his composure in all three games he played.
Barrett will need to extensively impress Meyer and the rest of the Buckeye staff to win the starting job back. The National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes were led by Cardale Jones, not J.T. Barrett.
To reiterate, all of this is theoretical. If Miller stays, his career has earned him the right to start. Barrett and Jones lack the experience that Miller has. However, Miller has never won a National Championship. Jones, in his three career starts, has more experience than Miller in that regard.
Lastly, nothing should be taken away from Barrett. He was almost definitely on his way to a Heisman Trophy nomination before suffering his injury. He is, as proven by his record this past year, also very capable of leading this team.
The bottom line is this — the Ohio State Buckeyes have a very difficult decision to make, and even so, they still seemingly cannot go wrong.
