J.T. Barrett isn't going anywhere. At least not yet.
The Ohio State quarterback plans to return for his senior season. He made the announcement on his Instagram page Wednesday afternoon.
Barrett shared the Silver Football as the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player with Penn State running back Saquon Barkley this season after he threw for 2,555 yards and 24 touchdowns while also running for 845 yards and nine touchdowns. He also was named the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year for the second time in his career.
A redshirt junior and two-time captain, Barrett could have left early for the 2017 NFL Draft like at least three of his other teammates — Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley and Raekwon McMillan — or even transferred and played right away elsewhere after graduating this December. But he said it would be "really hard" to walk away after Ohio State's shocking 31-0 loss to Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff.
It looks like he didn't change his mind in the span of four days and Ohio State has one of the most decorated players in school history back in the fold with a new quarterbacks coach (Ryan Day) and presumed new offensive coordinator (Kevin Wilson). Barrett is responsible for 100 career touchdowns and 69 passing touchdowns, both school records. He also holds a bevy of other school records (21 in all) and is in a position to threaten multiple others in 2017.
Barrett is 26-4 as a starting quarterback at Ohio State. The Buckeyes open their 2017 season at Indiana on Aug. 31.
