We are in the top three of my top ten quarterbacks list and the quarterback at my number three spot is…
#3 Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett- The last time J.T. Barrett came into a season opening game was two years ago as a redshirt freshman because then number one quarterback Braxton Miller hurt his shoulder 10 days before the season opening game in 2015. Last year Cardale Jones was the day one starter for the Buckeyes after he replaced an injured J.T. Barrett and won the National Championship. But Barrett is very experienced to big time Big Ten football. In the first 12 games, his redshirt freshman year, Barrett threw for 2,834 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 938 yards and had 11 rushing touchdowns. And at the second half of the 2015 Penn State game in week seven, Barrett replaced an inefficient Cradle Jones. Let’s review the three best games of Barrett’s small sample size from 2015.
On Week 8, J.T. Barrett was back behind center as the starting quarterback. He and the Buckeyes went to play Rutgers at their stadium. Barrett had a pretty good game. He went 14-18 on his throws, threw for a season high 250 yards, and threw for three scores. He also had 101 rushing yards and scored twice on the ground. He had a 236.8 passer rating and that is not even his season high, and he also posted a 92.5 QBR for the day. He and the Buckeyes came back to Columbus with a win. They won the game 49-7.
On Week 13, it was another Big Ten away game but it was more important than most because of who they were playing. They were playing bitter rival Michigan Wolverines at Ann Arbor. When the day was over, the Buckeyes came out on top 42-13. The Buckeyes took out their frustration on the Wolverines after they lost to the Michigan State Spartans by a game-winning field goal kicked by the Michigan State kicker, Michael Geiger. In that game a week ago Barrett was not too great, but against Michigan he bounced back. He went 9-15 throwing, threw for 113 yards and one touchdown. he also rushed for a season high 139 yards and ran the ball into the end zone three times. He also enjoyed a QBR of 95.5 on his trip to the Big House. By the end of the game, Barrett would have ran the ball more times (19) than he threw the ball. And the next game of the season, Barrett and Buckeyes faced the Irish in the Fiesta Bowl.
Even though Ohio State wanted to be in the playoff and did not get in, they did not play like a team that was disappointed when they played Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes beat the Irish 44-28. Barrett and the Buckeyes were playing for more than a bowl game win, they were playing for the multiple of Buckeyes that would not wear the Scarlet and Gray ever again. Braxton Miller, Ezekiel Elliot, Joey Bosa, Cardale Jones, the list could go on and on. Nevertheless the Buckeyes won the game. And Barrett had a big part in the win. Barrett threw for 211 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed for 96 yards. Even though this was not a great numbers game for Barrett, it was a great game because this was probably the biggest stage he has played in college and he did not do bad at all. This game should be a good scene for Buckeye fans.
Even though Ohio State lost many players due to the draft, they should still be a favorite for the national championship because of the experience that they have at quarterback. Ohio State will only go as far as Barrett takes them. And if he can play a full season, their last game will most likely be the National Championship game.
