When J.T. Barrett took the field at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Sunday, he did so without having to worry about a quarterback competition.
Barrett is Ohio State's leader and one of its most experienced players, the unquestioned starting quarterback for the Buckeyes.
As a result, the program tabbed him as the lone player to meet with the media following the team's first workout of fall camp.
NOTES:
- Barrett admitted things are not the same as they were a year ago: "It is different because my boy 12 isn't here for sure."
- However, Barrett's mindset for the first day didn't change at all. He focused on staying back in the pocket while he throws and keep proper depth.
- On "The Edge," Barrett said it hits home with him because he thinks everybody can be pushed to a certain point, even though it is different for everyone: "A lot of times you don't do it for yourself. You do it for your teammates, a bigger cause ... When that point comes, you have to be ready."
- A big part of his focus right now in camp is to make sure all the young guys can learn about what is essential.
- The wide receivers are talented, so it is on Barrett to get the ball out on time in order "to see what they can do with it."
- No one really stood out the first day at wide receiver, but he was happy to see Noah Brown back on the practice field after his injury last fall.
- Barrett wouldn't admit wide receiver injuries prevented the passing game from reaching its full potential in 2015, but having them back in the fold is a nice luxury: "We like that we can play faster."
- On the running game, Barrett said it is nice to have weapons like Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson thrown into the equation along with Mike Weber.
- Weber is a very hard runner and is difficult to get down because his center of gravity is so low: "He has a motor." Barrett added Weber took "a ton of things" from Ezekiel Elliott last year.
- Barrett misses Cardale Jones because the latter made the quarterback room much more lively: "Now I gotta get Joe Burrow to smile."
- Barrett plans to FaceTime Jones Sunday evening to see what he is doing. The two talk often and he believe they will remain close: "He's one of those people that always had my back. When you compete against somebody, people might not like each other. With me and Cardale, it wasn't like that at all."
- Barrett believes Michael Jordan will improve greatly with more and more reps: "He plays hard, that's for sure."
- Overall, Barrett feels comfortable with the offensive line in front of him: "All of those guys, Coach Stud is going to do a great job of getting them ready to go."
- On the youth and inexperience around him, Barrett said things don't "feel crazy different" than last year because the approach and goals were the same.
- "Everybody came out juiced up and ready to go, it was just different numbers and faces."
