Should Ohio State start Cardale Jones or J.T. Barrett?

The Ohio State Buckeyes face a wonderful problem to have: Which star quarterback to name starter.

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The nation’s most intriguing position battle has finally been narrowed down two candidates.

All eyes have been on Columbus this offseason, as three quarterbacks have been in contention to start for the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. With Braxton Miller converting to wide receiver, the competition is down to Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett.

While head coach Urban Meyer faces a difficult decision, it’s a great problem for Ohio State to have. Both quarterbacks offer their own set of strengths, and either one could start for just about any team in the country.

Barrett flawlessly took over for the injured Miller at the beginning of the 2014 season, throwing for 2,384 yards and 34 touchdowns while rushing for another 938 yards and 11 scores. That made Barrett the most productive quarterback in the Big 10 and one of the best in the country.

After Barrett went down in the regular-season finale with an ankle injury, many worried the Buckeyes wouldn’t be able to compete with whoever they faced in the postseason with a third-string quarterback. Jones proved those fears exaggerated, as he led Ohio State to a 59-0 destruction of Wisconsin, a seven-point win over Alabama, and a dominating win over Oregon in the title game.

Jones threw for 742 yards and five touchdowns in those three games. Considering the quality of competition Jones was facing, there’s no denying Jones has the talent to be more than a one-hit wonder.

Meyer still has some time to officially decide, but he likely has a good idea of who will start by this point. While Barrett’s health will be a huge factor in the battle, he should be the favorite to start for now.

At 6-5 260 pounds, Jones offers a physical skill set that few can match. Jones is extremely hard to bring down, as the Ducks found out in the national championship game, and has an absolute cannon for an arm.

Jones’ ability to throw deep means he has the ability to make a lot of big plays. However, it should be noted that Jones worked best with deep receiving threat Devin Smith, who is now in the NFL with the New York Jets.

Barrett is the more complete quarterback for now and the better fit for Ohio State’s offense. His versatility and ability to both run and pass fits in better with Meyer’s offense, and looked a little less prone to mistakes than Jones, albeit in a limited sample.

It’s debatable which quarterback has the higher upside. However, Barrett looks like the safer pick due to his decision-making and accuracy, which might be all Ohio State needs.

The Buckeyes must also fact the future into their decision. Jones will undoubtedly get a chance to play at some point and could be tempted to leave for the NFL if he continues to play well, as his physical skill set should translate to the next level.

Meanwhile, Barrett will be around in 2016 and potentially 2017. Having Barrett around as a three or four-year starter could make Ohio State impossible to defeat.

Meyer has the luxury of having a quick hook no matter who wins. If Barrett is still limited by the ankle injury for whatever reason, Ohio State can easily go to Jones.

It may not even matter who wins, as the Buckeyes are talented enough to make the playoffs with either. Ohio State will be the national title favorites either way, and both quarterbacks could enter the season as Heisman Trophy contenders.

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