Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has repeatedly stated for some time now that he has no intention of publicly naming the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback prior to their season-opener Sept. 7 against Virginia Tech. So, if Ohio State fans thought they would even get the slightest hint during Meyer’s press conference previewing the matchup with Hokies on Monday morning, they probably came away a bit disappointed.
The questions for Meyer regarding the quarterback battle between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones came early and often, but Meyer again uttered a phrase he’s used on a number of occasions throughout the duration of fall camp.
“The quarterback situation, we’ll announce the starter when the first guy takes the snap,” Meyer said. "It’s still very close. Both guys are performing really well.”
Meyer and his staff have kept the quarterback situation close to the vest for some time now. Meyer said both guys have performed extremely well throughout fall camp and neither has really separated himself from the other. “I imagine if one of them was way ahead I probably would announce it, but they’re not,” Meyer said.
“I imagine if one of them was way ahead I probably would announce it, but they’re not.”– Urban Meyer
When Ed Warinner was asked if one guy was currently ahead of the other, the Ohio State offensive coordinator cracked a smile and said, “No, not right now.”
The game is scheduled to take place in one week, though. One would think the Buckeyes need to know who is going to take that first snap against the Hokies, but Meyer insists it’s not affecting how the team is preparing nor does he see delaying the decision as an advantage.
“If it was different skill sets probably, but they’re not,” Meyer said. “If you look at J.T.’s game plan when he was our quarterback and Cardale, it’s very similar.”
Meyer said he’d like to have an idea of who’s going to start by Wednesday’s practice. As the head coach, that’s something that needs to be known. Both are very accomplished players and there’s really not a bad choice that can be made. Meyer even hinted there’s a possibility of both playing against Virginia Tech.
Barrett was one of six Buckeyes to be named captain Friday and many thought that spoke volumes about who Meyer would wind up choosing to start. Meyer said it would play into his decision, but it certainly doesn’t make it for him.
“The actual quarterback, it’s a factor but it’s not the factor,” he said.
In reality, Meyer, Warinner and Co. probably already know who they’re going to start at quarterback; they’re just choosing not to share the information with anyone.
Meyer will only speak publicly to the media twice more before Ohio State opens its season — Tuesday on the Big Ten teleconference and following Wednesday’s practice. It’d be stunning if he revealed his choice then. He’s gone this far without saying anything of substance and the game is only one week away.
For now, it’s going to be a lot of the same quotes over and over.
“The guy that’s going to give us the best chance to move down the field is going to be the guy taking the snap,” Meyer said.
We’ll likely all just have to wait and see who that’s going to be.
