Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett is usually calm and soft spoken, often stoic in the face and hardly showing any expression. It’s seen as one of his biggest strengths as a quarterback, though, as he often seems unflappable in the most difficult of situations.
After the Buckeyes’ practice on Wednesday, however, Barrett showed a side he doesn’t often show. He gave brutally honest answers when asked questions from the media and showed plenty of emotion; it was drastically different from his normal coachspeak and, frankly, was quite refreshing.
When asked about Ohio State’s ability to throw the deep ball with him at quarterback, Barrett got sidetracked and vented about the comparisons between he and Cardale Jones; it sounded like something he had been holding back for a while.
But the redshirt sophomore also spoke freely in other areas. Specifically, he spoke to what it was like having to be the Buckeyes’ backup quarterback behind Jones through the first seven games of the season before earning the right to start last Saturday at Rutgers.
“It’s been different,” he said. “I guess it’s not the ideal situation after starting last year, so you think about players that start all year and then next year they’ll be a starter. In my case, I wasn’t, because I didn’t play well enough.”
“It was on me,” Barrett added. “I don’t want to point fingers on anybody else, because it’s definitely on me. I didn’t play well or to what I’m capable of playing. It’s been difficult, for sure, but just try to look at it to me like, ‘What can I do?’ Control what I can control.”
Barrett finally earned the opportunity to start for Ohio State after his four-touchdown performance in the Buckeyes’ 38-10 win over Penn State. His efficiency is a big part of why head coach Urban Meyer opted to make the change; Barrett has a knack for getting his team into the end zone.
Against Rutgers last Saturday, he topped that, accounting for five touchdowns as Ohio State blasted the Scarlet Knights, 49-7. He’s made 13 career starts and has accounted for 50 total touchdowns in those. For his career — which includes just 20 games — Barrett has 59 total touchdowns.
“That’s pretty crazy, for sure,” he said. “That’s the thing that’s crazy about it because I really don’t think about scoring touchdowns or stats or anything like that. I’m just trying to do my best work well within our offense and be the best I can be while I’m at quarterback.
“I didn’t dream about that growing up, that’s for sure, but that’s great.”
The situation has made Barrett a better player, he says, and the hope is that his newfound mindset will carry Ohio State to another berth in the Big Ten championship game as well as the College Football Playoff.
“That’s the thing about it: I don’t feel the same like I did last year. It’s a different situation, I feel better with where I’m at,” Barrett said. “I know I’m better as a quarterback, in the meeting room, and also on the field, as well. I don’t want to compare it to last year, but I feel like I’m a better me than I was last year.”
