Ohio State Football: Can JT Barrett make it in the NFL?
Here’s my take on whether the record-breaking gunslinger for the Ohio State Buckeyes will have success in the NFL.
Whether you love Ohio State or just hate them on principle, quarterback JT Barrett has arguably been the engine that galvanized the Buckeyes the last four years. His graduation earlier this month means that their upcoming bowl game will be his final game with the team.
The senior quarterback has amassed some amazing statistics in his college career, and he has shattered almost every school offensive record, even those set by the talented — if troubled — Art Schlichter.
As of the end of the regular season, Barrett has a colossal 9,309 passing yards, 3,208 yards rushing and averages 62 points for the Buckeyes per season. He currently holds school records for passing touchdowns, completion percentage, total yards per play and touchdowns.
There is no doubt that he can make big plays, but the question is, can he make big plays when the stakes are higher? That is, does Barrett have the right combination of talent and drive to make it in the NFL?
On the plus side, he has natural leadership ability. He has been the only three-time captain in the 128-year history of the Buckeye football team. He reads defenses well, is cool under pressure, and is mobile and creative in the pocket. He is a speedy rusher and nails the short-range passes.
There are some issues to overcome for Barrett that might be difficult for recruiters to overlook. He doesn’t do well with the long passes and his accuracy is average, at best. The majority of his passes are from the shotgun, which is typical of his spread-offense playing style. He also lacks the size that is typical of his professional counterparts.
Barrett has been a brilliant addition to the Buckeyes’ roster, and the team will miss him in 2018. Nonetheless, Barrett may not be the complete quarterback that he needs to be to succeed in the pros. He does not excel at the long pass and he needs to improve his presence in the pocket. He has been inconsistent all season, although part of the blame for that has to fall on the massive shoulders of the ineffective Buckeye O-line, as well as some deplorable play-calling.
Barrett has been one of the best quarterbacks Ohio State has ever had — and that’s saying something. But then again, Tim Tebow broke almost every record at University of Florida, and, well, we all know what happened there. Barrett has made history in the Big Ten, but maybe that’s where his story ends.
Next: Predicting all 41 bowl games and CFB Playoff
What do you think? Does Barrett have a good shot at NFL glory? Leave your comments below.