This time last year, Cardale Jones was a third-string quarterback most famous for making a bad Tweet.
This year, he's won a championship, trolled Joakim Noah into oblivion, and thrown out a first pitch, among other things.
It would be painful to watch this all go to King Cardale's head, but it'd almost be understandable. How many people are equipped in their early-20s to handle overnight celebrity?
Jones became immortal by being as cool as a cucumber in the pocket, but No. 12 isn't about to pat himself on the back, despite still being the only 100 percent healthy OSU QB (with live experience) in the middle of June.
"I haven't proven anything yet," Cardale told Austin Ward of ESPN.com. "[...] I have two guys in front of me who are working just as hard."
That last line is the one to parse. Notice how Dale says he's got two guys "in front" of him. He realizes that despite winning the school's first championship since 2002, he has yet to beat out Braxton Miller or a non-redshirt J.T. Barrett. In Jones' mind, it looks like he's still at the bottom of the depth chart.
Dale says he needs to work on leadership and the intricacies of playing quarterback, but his competition would be wise not to let Dale's humility lull them into a false sense of security. 12 Gauge is coming for that No. 1 spot.
"I want to be the quarterback of this team," Jones told ESPN's Ward.
(Don't we all, Cardale, don't we all?)
