So a little back story. I played QB all throughout my football career before it was cut short due to a knee injury. When I played in high school, before every game, I would look up college football pump-up videos just to help ease my mind. After searching around during the 2015 season, I found this video about the Ohio State “The Decision” or as I like to call them, The Ohio State 3…
So, with this season coming up with OSU coming in with a QB Battle, I decided to write this one on The Big 3….
Just like every other person in the United States that isn’t an OSU fan, I despise the Buckeyes. With that being said, my god, they had 3 of the most dynamic and explosive QB’s to grace the College Scene. The fact that OSU had all 3 of these QB’s on the roster for the 2014-15 season is insanity. My good friend is an Ohio State fan, and when I asked him to give me a brief rundown of how he felt, he texted me back saying “I was in love with those QB’s more than my girlfriend at the time.”
Some quotes from our good ol’ OSU fans on SU:
“One’s a toothpick, the other can’t decide if he likes to throw or run more, and the other looks like he has an IQ of a walnut” -Frank Fanelli
“One is a glorified running back who was a team leader. One was the only 3 time captain in Ohio State history and one brought us a national championship” – Anthony Ventura
Miller:
Miller Attended Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. While there, he was named a Mr. Football Award finalist, and also competed in the Under Armour All-American Game. He was also a letterman in basketball and track and was a district competitor for the 4×100 relay.
Miller was recruited by power 5 schools like Florida, Bama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wisconsin, but ultimately would end up picking OSU over all those schools. He was given a 5-star ranking and the number 2 overall ranking for players in his class.
Barrett:
Barrett attended S. H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. He played as a dual-threat quarterback for the Raiders football team. As a junior, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and passed for over 1,600 yards, totaling 23 touchdowns. In his senior season, he rushed for 569 yards with seven touchdowns and passed for 784 yards and five touchdowns before tearing his ACL in October.
Barrett was given the 7th dual-threat ranking in his class and signed a Letter of Intent to OSU and attended in April of 2012.
Jones:
Jones attended Ginn Academy in Cleveland, Ohio and played football for Ted Ginn, Sr. at Glenville High School. He played Basketball and Track as well and Lettered in both, as well as leading the football team to a Championship in 2009.
Jones was given a 3-Star ranking and committed to OSU, but attended a Military Academy to help improve academics prior to attending Ohio State.
College Career:
(For the sake of time, I will be only talking about the Miller’s 2013 season and for Barrett and Jones, the 2014 season)
Miller:
While Miller has to sit out the 2014 season with a Shoulder Injury, I’ll be talking about his 2013 season, aka his “Heisman” season.
Miller had an outstanding 2013 Season. Most people had he labeled as an Athlete more than a QB, and I was also on of those people. He had a decent throwing motion, but he would force too many throws and try to make too much of plays. But boy was I wrong. Miller threw for 2100 Yards with 24 TD’s through the Air while adding 1100 Yards on the ground and punching in 12 more TD’s.
Some of these plays he made was like watching how I used to play NCAA football, with a 99 Speed and 99 Arm Strength QB. In Urban Meyer’s system, Miller succeeded with RPO’s (Run Pass Option’s), Throws on the run in which was his strong suit, and even QB run’s where he would show off his athleticism and speed. Every Saturday when he would step on the field, he would somehow in some way show how electric he was and leave people watching live or at home with their jaws dropped and in complete shock.
Also, while it was the year he played at RB/WR/All-Purpose Back, this in my opinion is his greatest play…
Barrett:
Barrett had one of the greatest offensive careers at OSU, breaking record after record for TD’s, Yards, etc. After coming into the 2014 season as season at the helm of the offense, Barrett took the college football scene by storm.
Barrett had an explosive 2014 season, with 2900 Yards and 34 Td’s through the air and 950 Yards and 12 TD’s on the ground. With everyone doubting if OSU would succeed without Miller at the Playcaller position and that it would be an off-season, Barrett turned that completely around and end up Winning the First Every College Football Playoff.
The Redshirt-Freshman had a cannon of a right arm, wheels for legs, and made excellent decisions. Footwork was poor at time and could force throws, but overall head had an excellent career at OSU.
Jones:
Jones is mostly known for playing in 3 game in the 2014 Season and being Lights Out. The Big Ten Championship, Sugar bowl and National championship Game. Jones would come in to replace Barrett and lead the Buckeyes to a Natty with Jones looking like a NFL QB with the Size and Arm Strength he posses. Also, 12 Gauge gave us some the greatest quote known to mankind:
He’s a man of the people, and he speaks the people’s minds. Anyways, back to football:
As he says, it’s crazy that he only started 3 games and won a National Championship and there are teams out there whose QB has played in 40 games and not even taste the National Championship. Jones would return and play for OSU on more season, but on of his most memorable throws came in a Spring Game:
Pro Careers:
Miller:
Miller declared for the draft as a WR/RB , and showed out at the combine:
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He was selected in the 3rd round by the Houston Texans, and play as a Wide Receiver. He is still currently on the Texans as the 3rd string backup and is still under contract:
Jones:
Cardale entered the draft as a number 4-5 QB due to his Arm Strength, Size, and Play making abilities. At his Pro Day, he was able to show off his accuracy and strength to scouts and GM’s:
He was selected in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills with the 139th pick. He was mainly a back up for the Bills and then Traded to the LA Chargers and remains as a Back-up.
Barrett:
Barrett is currently a prospect for the 2018 NFL Draft. He is considered as a late round or an Undrafted Free Agent, but I disagree. With the arm and legs, he could make play in the NFL, and seeing what he did in college, it should translate to the NFL with the similar System:
So, what happened to be the 3 OSU QB’s who at the start of their 2014 season thought would 1 would be a Heisman candidate and 2 holding clip-boards, ended up all become legends within the OSU communities. They all have their high’s and low’s, and will be known as The Ohio State 3 for years to come. Let’s just see how the QB’s this year shape up to these 3.