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Ohio State Football: Cardale Jones will win starting QB job

By Stephen Forsha

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The Ohio State Buckeyes’ starting quarterback job is Cardale Jones‘ to lose, and once practice begins for the summer, there is no doubt in my mind he’ll leave the competition against J.T. Barrett as the starter.

This is nothing against Barrett, but with the way Jones played in the final games of the ’14 season for the Buckeyes, on the biggest stage possible, and how smoothy the offense ran with him under center (along with Ezekiel Elliott rushing the football) it will be tough to fix what isn’t broken for the ’15 season when it comes to the starting quarterback position.

ALSO AT SCARLET AND GAME: Braxton Miller will produce at H-back

The quarterback competition is less crowded with Braxton Miller saying he’ll be an H-back this upcoming season, though that hasn’t been made official by head coach Urban Meyer, but it makes the most sense for all involved.

But today is about Jones, and how the national champion quarterback is the right guy for the starter job at Ohio State.

No. 12 seems to take the job seriously, but he is enjoying the spotlight as well, which as the starting quarterback for the top team in the country is a good thing to have. I like the fact Jones isn’t wound so tightly, but still able to compete at the highest level possible, as he seems to be relaxed when away from the football field.

On Monday, Jones tweeted about getting prepared for the season:

Jones also knows how important his teammates are, and he let that be known last week when he praised Miller for being the “ultimate team player.” That’s something you want to see from the quarterback and the leader of the offense, if Jones is named the “official starter” by Meyer this summer.

Jerry Hinnen of CBS Sports wrote this of Jones when he spoke of Miller this past week:

"“Jones confirms that “ultimate team player” Miller is involved in a position switch, but adds that Miller will still have a role “in the quarterback room and at the quarterback position” — an echo of comments made by Miller’s father that his son’s not done with playing QB just yet.”"

Why do I believe Jones will be the starting quarterback when the Buckeyes open the ’15 season, winning the competition against Barrett?

Jones does nothing but win when he gets the opportunity to compete, as the 6-5, 230-pound quarterback proved last season by being apart of three of the biggest wins not just for last season, but in the history of the Buckeyes’ program.

Looking back at the Big Ten Championship game (also with the two playoff games) Jones had some quality stats considering all of the rushing yards the Buckeyes put up behind Elliott in those three games as well.

Here are the numbers by Jones in the three biggest games of the season, which also happen to be the only three games Jones started for the ’14 season:

• Big Ten Championship vs. Wisconsin
12-of-17 for 257 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 70.6 competition percentage.

• Playoff Semifinal vs. Alabama
18-of-35 for 243 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 51.4 competition percentage; 17 carries for 43 yards.

• National Championship vs. Oregon
16-of-23 for 242 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 69.6 competition percentage; 21 carries for 38 yards, one touchdown.

Remember those are numbers of a quarterback who didn’t play in every game last season, and came into the spring of the ’14 season as the third option at quarterback, behind both Miller and Barrett.

Nov 1, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones (12) against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Jones in his short time as the starter showed he has the ability to run the offense at a high level, plus he can win on the biggest stages possible. Though we all have to admit he had some great help from the offensive line and the rushing attack of the OSU offense.

What is great about this offense for the Buckeyes is the quarterback doesn’t have to be the entire show with the luxury of having Elliott in the backfield, and having one of the best (maybe the best) offensive line in the nation.

Jones is the best choice, but it is also understandable if Barrett wins the job as well.

Why I pick Jones over Barrett is the reasoning he showed the entire country what he’s made if during the biggest games of the season, on the national stage, in a basically “can’t lose” situation. With more pressure on him than any of us probably realize, Jones did his part to help lead the Buckeyes to victory and the national title.

Against three of the best teams in the country Jones had five touchdown passes compared to two interceptions, and won games many in the media felt the Buckeyes would lose.

Admit it, you want to see how good Jones can be with an entire regular season under his belt before the playoffs begin?

Jones is the smart decision to be the starting quarterback to open the season, and I believe he’ll be the last quarterback standing whenever Meyer announces his final decision before Week 1.

Next: Can Braxton Miller be a 1st round pick?

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