Barring injury, J.T. Barrett will start at quarterback for Ohio State in 2017. Let's get that out of the way first.
Yes, his regression the last two seasons is tangible, especially if you look at it from a statistical standpoint though the absence of a dominant receiver didn't help things. But Barrett is already one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Ohio State history and when it is all said and done, could own essentially every passing record. He is 26-4 as a starter, won a share of the Silver Football last season as Big Ten Most Valuable Player and also took home the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award.
So yeah, he is going to start.
Urban Meyer loves to use the phrase "beat somebody out" with regards to his football team, regardless the position. And while Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, Stephen Collier — who's future with the program remains unclear after an injury last season — plus incoming freshman Tate Martell are all terrific players, even if Ohio State holds an open competition at quarterback, the chances are infinitesimal anybody but Barrett would win.
OK, now that we have that established, let's get something else out of the way: One thing Barrett did last season was extremely unusual. He stayed healthy and started all 13 games during the 2016 season, a rarity for a quarterback in Meyer's system. Whether or not that happens again obviously won't be decided until the season starts.
Like any program, the backup quarterback spot at Ohio State is extremely important. Burrow held down the fort for the entirety of the season while Haskins redshirted. The latter drew rave reviews during Fiesta Bowl practice, acting as Clemson quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson on the scout team. And Martell is going to come in and compete because that is all he knows how to do.
So who is the next man up as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart for the Buckeyes in 2016? Let's dissect the options.
Joe Burrow, Redshirt Sophomore
In garbage time, Burrow shined for the Buckeyes in 2016. He only played in a handful of games but completed 22-of-28 passes for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That is good for a quarterback rating of 169.9.
“Joe Burrow has been coming on. He was a guy that last year I had my concerns last season, just arm strength to release, twitch, ability to run the ball, because you have to do that,” Meyer said last April after Burrow threw for nearly 200 yards and led the Gray team to a 28-17 victory. “He's gotten better and better. He's a grinder.”
Burrow is known for his accuracy, which he showed in spot duty last season. He threw touchdown passes in blowouts against Bowling Green and at Maryland. Burrow's grasp of the offense has noticeably increased, though like Barrett and the others in Ohio State's quarterbacks room, must undergo a transition with Tim Beck heading to Texas and Ryan Day stepping in to replace him as quarterbacks coach.
Burrow took advantage of being a year ahead of Haskins to serve as Barrett's backup for the duration of the 2016 season. He should be the favorite to do it again this fall for the same reason, but Haskins is by no means going to let him have it.
Dwayne Haskins, Redshirt Freshman
Of all the young quarterbacks in his program, Haskins is the one that Meyer glows about most when he talks about him.
“He's the best quarterback at his age I've ever seen. His release, his footwork, his bounce in the pocket, his ability to get out of trouble, his arm strength and size are absolutely ideal,” Meyer told Sports Illustrated last year around National Signing Day when Haskins faxed his Letter of Intent from Maryland to Columbus.
The love didn't stop there. Meyer called Haskins an "impact recruit" that day and he's been on the head coach's mind ever since. Haskins took a redshirt due to a logjam at his position in 2016 but made the most of his situation when the Buckeyes prepared for Clemson in the College Football Playoff and he wore an orange No. 4 jersey to imitate Watson.
“I know his game a lot and we play very similar,” Haskins said of Watson at Fiesta Bowl Media Day on Dec. 29. “So it's helped me play him in bowl prep.”
Haskins has excellent size, standing at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. He said he hopes to add some more good weight in the form of muscle this winter, all while keeping the brilliant mechanics that quarterback guru Bryson Spinner helped him hone as a young pup.
Haskins can spin it. Meyer wanted him to be "right in the middle" of the backup job last season. He will be fully immersed in 2017.
Tate Martell, True Freshman
The 4-star commit arrived on campus last week as one of Ohio State's nine early enrollees in what is shaping up to be a legendary 2017 recruiting class. He also never lost a game he started in high school at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors, and is the nation's No. 2 dual-threat quarterback recruit.
Martell played a ton of football in high school but walks onto campus at the bottom of the totem pole. His height (5-foot-11) works against him but Martell is lightning quick, has an even faster release and, put simply, is a winner. The Buckeyes want competitors like that in their program, which is why Martell appears to be a perfect fit.
We haven't heard Meyer's thoughts on Martell yet due to the fact he only enrolled a few days ago and talking about him prior to that would result in a NCAA violation. Martell is going to do his best to show he should see the field in 2017 but is behind Barrett, Burrow, Collier and Haskins in terms of the playbook because he is a true freshman.
But if injuries happen or Martell shows Meyer something really spectacular, he could earn the right to backup Barrett in 2017. Don't count on it, though.
Stephen Collier, Redshirt Junior
Collier is listed last in this story because his playing days at Ohio State are likely over. With the scholarship crunch and signing day just around the corner, the fact Collier has his degree in hand probably means he will no longer be part of the NCAA-mandated 85 scholarship limit in 2017.
That isn't a bad thing by any means. Collier improved immensely ahead of last season, before suffering an injury that cost him the season. He helped signal in plays from the sideline all year and probably will do so again this fall. It just feels like Collier is destined for a graduate assistant role at Ohio State.
He could transfer and be eligible to play immediately, however. With two years remaining, that is certainly an option for him after graduating this winter.
