Fansided

30 college football players with the biggest shoes to fill in 2018

By Nicholas Ian Allen

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 14: Baker Mayfield
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 14: Baker Mayfield /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 07: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) throws a pass during game action between the Maryland Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes (10) on October 7, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Maryland 62-14. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 07: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) throws a pass during game action between the Maryland Terrapins and the Ohio State Buckeyes (10) on October 7, 2017 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Maryland 62-14. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Shoes to Fill: J.T. Barrett

J.T. Barrett was the starting quarterback at Ohio State for what seemed like a decade. He stepped in for an injured Braxton Miller and became a Heisman Trophy candidate before suffering his own season-ending injury. Barrett then competed with Miller and national championship-winning quarterback Cardale Jones in the highest profile quarterback competition in history (at least until we see how this year’s Alabama saga plays out).

Barrett took the job for good as a junior in 2016 and led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff, and in 2017 he led the team to the Big Ten title. Overall, he threw for a school-record 9,434 yards and Big Ten record 104 touchdowns and was the starting quarterback in four straight wins over Michigan. Though those in scarlet and gray didn’t universally love him, Barrett had a terrific career in Columbus and should go down as one of the best quarterbacks ever at Ohio State.

Nevertheless, Ohio State has a plan to succeed Barrett. Dwayne Haskins emerged as Barrett’s top backup in 2017 and played spectacularly well in limited duty. Haskins completed 28 of 40 pass attempts (70 percent) for 388 yards (9.7 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns with one interception.

The rising sophomore will have competition for the job, but his experience gives him the edge over Joe Burrow and highly touted redshirt freshman Tate Martell. Burrow was 7-for-11 for 61 yards in 2017. Martell was ranked the No. 2 dual-threat QB prospect in the 2017 recruiting class.

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