J.T. Barrett named Ohio State's starting QB against Rutgers
Ohio State coach Urban Meyer announced Tuesday that for the first time this season, sophomore J.T. Barrett will be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback instead of junior Cardale Jones.
“J.T has earned the right to start Saturday at Rutgers,” Meyer said on the Big Ten football coaches weekly teleconference.
Meyer said he based the decision on “sheer production.”
“Cardale’s going to be an active part too,” Meyer said. “It was a difficult decision, but red zone production and third down production were the two areas that made a difference.”
Ohio State plays at Rutgers on Saturday (8 p.m. ABC). Barrett will be making his first start since Nov. 29, 2014, when he passed for 176 yards and a toudchdown and rushed for 89 and two TDs. Barrett broke an ankle in the fourth quarter of the game and did not play in the remainder of the Buckeyes' run to the inaugural College Football Playoff championship, but his performance to that point helped him finish fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and earn second-team All-America honors at quarterback.
Ohio State is 7-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Amway Coaches Poll, but Jones has not excelled in various aspects of the game in recent weeks.
On Oct. 17 against Penn State, Jones was 9 for 15 passing for 84 yards before giving way to Barrett, who led the Buckeyes to three second-quarter touchdowns. Barrett replaced Jones permanently after two scoreless drives in the third quarter.
For the game, Barrett had two touchdowns passing and two rushing.
USA TODAY Sports Midseason All-America team
Overall, Barrett is Ohio State's second leading rusher and has rushed or passed for nine touchdowns in intermittent action. He is completing 61.4% of his passes compared to Jones' 62.4 and is averaging 7.9 yards per rushing attempt. Jones has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for one, but he also has thrown seven interceptions.
Meyer said he’s never at peace with the position during the season, but “I’ve got two great guys who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, and I’m just trying to do the right thing.”
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