The quarterback is the leading position in soccer, perhaps in all sports. College football team seasons are often made or broken by their quarterback’s play. Perhaps that’s why, in announcing their 2010-19 All-Decade team, the Big Ten waited until the end of the week to announce the quarterback after revealing other positions in recent days.
On Friday, the 24-person selection committee, comprised of former players, coaches and current media members covering the conference, announced the state of Ohio. JT Barrett as the quarterback of the Big Ten’s All-Decade First Team. In five seasons as quarterback Buckeye, Barrett left Scarlet and Gray as one of the show’s most successful callers, with 39 Big Ten and / or Ohio State records.
?? #BTNAllDecade QB ALERT ??
? 3x B1G QB of the year
? Only QB to go 4-0 in the game
? national championBow, @OhioStateFB great JT Barrett (@ JT_theQB4th).
More: https://t.co/tJBP1RNQRm pic.twitter.com/7OT9WshpXU
– Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) July 3, 2020
Barrett was a four-star prospect, the second double-threat quarterback, the 17th best player in Texas and the 135th player in the country in the 2013 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. The Witchita Falls product selected the Buckeyes above offers from Baylor, LSU, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and others.
With Braxton Miller entrenched as the starter for Scarlet and Gray, it was an easy decision for Urban Meyer to Barrett’s red shirt during his freshman year on campus. As a freshman in a red shirt, Barrett struggled with Cardale Jones for backup work, but when Miller fell with a shoulder injury at fall camp, Barrett was pushed into the starting role.
Despite some early inconsistencies, Barrett finally settled in his position after a loss to Virginia Tech and improved week after week. He led Ohio State with an 11-1 record, but suffered an injury of his own that ended the season against Michigan and had to watch from the bench as Jones led the team to a Big Ten and a national title.
In the pre-2015 preseason, there was another battle for the starting quarterback job. This time Jones won, opening the year leading the Buckeye offense. But after difficulties in launching the offense, Meyer switched to Barrett after seven games. Barrett missed another game due to suspension, but returned to lead Scarlet and Gray to a 12-1 season, including a win against Notre Dame at the Fiesta Bowl to end the year.
For the next two seasons, Barrett was the unquestionable starter for Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to an overall record of 23-4.
As a junior, Barrett threw for 2,555 yards and 24 touchdowns while running for 845 yards and nine additional scores. In his last season, Barrett passed for 3,053 yards and 35 touchdowns and ran for 798 yards and found the end zone 12 more times.
Barrett ended his career at Ohio State with a 38-6 record starter, shooting for 9,434 yards and 104 touchdowns, while also running for 3,263 yards and 43 scores. He was a three-time captain, three-time All-Big Ten award winner, three-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, and won the Silver Football Award in 2016. He has school and conference records for responsible touchdowns and touchdown passes, among others.
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Although he was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barrett signed with the New Orleans Saints soon after. Although he has served primarily in practice squads, Barrett has remained in the NFL since leaving Scarlet and Gray.
