After weeks of remaining mum about J.T. Barrett's place in the Heisman race, count Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer as the latest who thinks his quarterback belongs in the conversation.
"I don't know if my endorsement matters, but I do statistically — been fortunate to coach some guys that have been in New York — and he's a Heisman candidate," Meyer said Monday at his weekly press conference.
Barrett, a redshirt freshman who was thrust in the starting role after star quarterback Braxton Miller suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in training camp, is completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,356 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also has 771 yards and nine touchdowns running the ball.
In a 31-24 win against Minnesota Saturday, he combined for 389 yards and four touchdowns on a record-setting day.
His 38 total touchdowns in a single season are more than any other player in school history and is one throw away from matching Troy Smith's record for 30 touchdown passes in a year. An 86-yard run in the first quarter against the Gophers was the longest by a Buckeye quarterback.
Since a loss to Virginia Tech early in the season, Barrett's helped guide surging Ohio State back into the national conversation.
"J.T. is a Heisman candidate that knows that he could have played much better Saturday," Meyer said, "and that's the best thing about coaching these guys right now. I hope it doesn't change."
