J.T. Barrett wears two bracelets, one on each wrist and each with its own specific message. On the left, it says ALWAYS COMPETE and on the right, WIN FOREVER.
Motivational slogans? Cool catchphrases? Slick-looking rubber bands? You choose how to look at them, but perhaps they're a way to keep Barrett grounded as he plows through winter workouts with the rest of his teammates for the first time in his Ohio State tenure as the clear-cut starting quarterback.
"Man, I didn't think about that," Barrett said Wednesday.
Barrett didn't even recognize the reality he is knee deep in after a 12-1 season where Urban Meyer yo-yoed Cardale Jones and the guy who finished fifth in the 2014 Heisman Trophy voting back and forth at the game's most vital position.
For the first time in now his fourth year with the program, the Buckeyes are Barrett's—and his alone—to lead. He is the guy at quarterback. There is no controversy.
“You know he's the leader, he's the quarterback, he's going to be the guy. You know. He's a guy I lean on a lot. He's really helped those young receivers, running backs really develop.”– Mickey Marotti on J.T. Barrett
"At that position, having a guy especially his caliber, a leader, great player in that position on offense in this program running this offense, he knows how to run it — it's vital," starting center and fifth-year senior Pat Elflein said Wednesday. "It's huge."
Meyer and strength coach Mickey Marotti dubbed Barrett, Elflein and middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan captains for 2016 not even a week after Ohio State took down Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, 44-28, New Year's Day. The Buckeyes might name more captains in August, but it wouldn't really be surprising if they didn't.
With such a young team prepping for 2016, looking to that trio of returning starters and leaders is wise. And it all starts with Barrett — after all, he is the quarterback.
"You know he's the leader, he's the quarterback, he's going to be the guy," Marotti, Meyer's strength and conditioning sensei, said of Barrett. "You know. He's a guy I lean on a lot. He's really helped those young receivers, running backs really develop."
In the spring of 2013—Barrett's first with the program as an early enrollee—the quarterback rehabbed an ACL injury and watched Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton lead Ohio State to an undefeated season and berth in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The next year, Miller remained the guy at quarterback despite not playing a down in spring practice with a shoulder injury he sustained in the Orange Bowl loss to Clemson. Barrett and Cardale Jones battled to be his backup, but knew in their heads Miller was top dog.
Miller's shoulder again shredded to pieces 12 days before the season opener against Navy in Baltimore, Barrett was thrust in the fire and put together one of the best statistical seasons in Big Ten history for a quarterback. He broke his ankle in the regular season finale against Michigan that year and watched Jones win the national championship, and even though the two battled it out the following spring, summer and fall camp for the job as Barrett rehabbed again, it turns out he was the right man for the starting job by the end of 2015 too.
Meyer didn't fully make the switch until late October before the game at Rutgers, and then had to rescind it after Barrett's arrest and citation of OVI Halloween night. All that behind him, and with how the Buckeyes finished the season on offense—averaging 489 yards per game and 43 points its final two games—there is no question who is the starting quarterback at Ohio State.
"There's instant respect from young guys. J.T., he is the quarterback, there's no question about it," Marotti said.
Barrett—who was also a team captain in 2015—said he didn't have a problem being a leader last season even when he wasn't the starting quarterback because of what he did in 2014. He loves Jones and misses him now he is onto the NFL, but admitted it was difficult establishing rapport and trust on the field with guys when he wasn't the starter.
"I probably tried to work harder on leadership being that I wasn’t the starting quarterback. I didn’t have the connection on the field," Barrett said. "As a quarterback, it is easier to talk to somebody when you're on the field and you see the same thing. Like, why we didn’t connect on a certain pass."
Meyer's decision to play Jones as Ohio State moved to a new play caller and quarterbacks coach was dissected and scrutinized all year and will continue to be, but the head coach is happy with a 12-1 season. He's happy to have Barrett back in the saddle for another go with a young, eager team. The mindset of 'winning forever' and 'always competing' that lies upon Barrett's wristbands puts the quarterback a cut above most leaders.
The other team leaders feel that too.
"It's easier, because you know he's the quarterback. There's no guessing on who it's going to be or whatever, because of injury," Marotti said. "He's the guy. It's just been great."
Added Elflein: "I feel like our leadership is a huge role in this offseason. It’s a lot of pressure, but those two are some of the best leaders I’ve ever seen, ever been around. I’m learning from them. I’m learning from J.T. Me and J.T. will sit down and talk for some days an hour just about leadership. You know, ‘How are the guys doing? How do you get through to this guy? What’s it take to get through to this guy?’ I feel like that’s helping me a lot growing because J.T. is an incredible leader."
And as it sits in mid-February, having Barrett slotted as starter bodes well for Ohio State come September.
"I think it just gives some of the young guys someone to go there, someone to go to on the field and has done the work in different places and stuff like that," Barrett said.
