Through three games, Junior quarterback J.T. Barrett has played phenomenally. Barrett has 10 touchdowns and one interception through three games with 67.1% of passes completed. While Barrett may decide to come back next season, there is not a reason for him to. He already has 11 school records and his name on lists 80 times. The only Buckeye to appear more is Archie Griffin 86 times. It should be noted that both Ezekiel Elliott and Troy Smith both appear 80 times as well. Nonetheless, at the end the season, Barrett will likely try his luck with the NFL Draft this spring. Head Coach Urban Meyer will need to find a replacement for Barrett next season. Here is the LWOS Early 2017 Ohio State Quarterback Battle Analysis.
Early 2017 Ohio State QB Battle Analysis
Assuming that Meyer does not start a transfer quarterback or true freshman, he will have five options for the position. These include Joe Burrow, Justin Cook, Stephen Collier, and Dwayne Haskins Jr. While 2017 recruit Tate Martell is a long-shot to win the starting position, he will likely be among rumors for the starting job so we will include him as well. Here are Meyer’s options for next season.
Joe Burrow
In the few instances where Barrett was pulled to rest, Burrow was able to play well. Burrow has completed 75% of his passes for 8.5 yards per attempt and a touchdown. With some very poor in-conference opponents coming up on the schedule, Burrow will likely get more time to prove himself. From his film, he looks like a smaller Cardale Jones. He looks the most comfortable in the pocket but has some speed when he has to scramble. His speed certainly is not his strong suit though. If the offensive line can stand tall next year, he could be a very plausible option. Only Pat Elflein is expected to leave which should allow for a strong offensive line. Burrow has also shown that he can be a dual-threat, not with rushing, but with receiving. In high school, Burrow was able to catch a pass he threw to himself.
Justin Cook
While he may be a junior this season, Cook has yet to actually take a college snap. Unless he is suddenly moved up the depth chart, his only tape comes from three seasons ago. Like Burrow, Cook seems to be very reliant on his arm. However, he doesn’t seem as comfortable scrambling. Cook is listed as 6’2″ and 220 lbs, so when he chooses to rush, he runs right over defenders. Or at least he did in high school. While Cook may be a long-shot for the starting job, he would make a solid backup for blowout games.
Stephen Collier
Of all the options Meyer has, Collier seems to play the most like Barrett. Collier has a rocket for an arm and has elusiveness very similar to Barrett. In last year’s Spring Game, Collier struggled, throwing three interceptions and fumbled once. Collier must put that performance behind him if he ever wants to have a shot for the starting job. He certainly has the talent start, he just needs to relax in the pocket and realize that he has more time than he thinks. If Meyer can build his confidence, Collier could be a serious contender for the starting job. Collier also has an injury to worry about. He tore his ACL in May of this year, so it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back. While Collier’s college career hasn’t gone as planned, here is one of his only highlights of his time at Ohio State.
Dwayne Haskins Jr.
After de-committing from Maryland, he has been turning heads at Ohio State. During training camp, he caught the attention of both Meyer and senior Dontre Wilson. Meyer praised his personal coach, Bryson Spinner, and noted that Haskins is as good as any young quarterback he has seen. He even went as far to room Haskins with Barrett during the training camp to help him learn as much as possible from him. From his film, he seems to be the most balanced of the five options. His accuracy on passes looks to be his strongest attribute, but his speed and size are also respectable. Expect Haskins to be a major player in the quarterback battle next year.
Tate Martell
And then there’s Tate Martell. Martell reopening his recruitment after Nick Starkel leaked a private conversation about a teammate. Now in his senior year of high school, Martell is expected to be a threat for the starting job. This season, Martell has thrown for 816 yards with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. These stats are accompanied by 406 rushing yards and six touchdowns in only five games. While Martell may look like the next J.T. Barrett from these stats, he still has some faults. He has already fumbled four times this season which is more than any other season he’s played. Martell is only 5’11” and 170 lbs, which could be a problem in such a physical conference. In Meyer’s 15 years of coaching, he has never started a true freshman quarterback. Martell certainly has a lot of talent, but this trend should not be expected to change.
Overall
Of the five options Meyer will have next year, there should only be two major options for the job. Both Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins Jr. should have a long battle for the starting job. Even if both play well, Meyer will likely not go back to the dual-quarterback approach like the 2015 season. If both play well enough to start, Burrow will likely get the job due to his experience he’s gained already.
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