Urban Meyer is nearing a decision on whether J.T. Barrett or Cardale Jones will start the season-opener on Labor Day, but the Ohio State Buckeyes head coach isn’t locked in to his initial choice.
According to Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch, Meyer said he has a leader for the Virginia Tech matchup but anticipates both quarterbacks will play throughout the 2015 campaign.
Urban Meyer just said he has leader in mind at Qb but also said he anticipates.both playing through the year.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) September 1, 2015
The saying goes, “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” However, in Ohio State’s case, the team is choosing between Barrett, a Big Ten record-setter and Jones, who guided the Buckeyes to a national championship.
Barrett racked up 2,834 passing yards and 34 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions, recording a 64.4 completion percentage before sustaining a broken ankle that ended his breakout year. The then-freshman tallied 938 rushing yards and 11 scores, too.
Jones replaced Barrett—who had originally stepped in for incumbent starter Braxton Miller—and accrued 742 passing yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions throughout the next three outings. The Buckeyes destroyed Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, knocked off Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinal and ultimately toppled Oregon in the title.
Meyer has a difficult decision to make, but utilizing both gunslingers isn’t a cop-out. Barrett was well on his way toward a championship appearance, and Jones sealed the deal.
Ohio State has two quarterbacks. And unlike the overwhelming majority of other competitions, both are championship-worthy choices.