COLUMBUS, Ohio — Of all of the criteria that a Heisman Trophy winner typically has to meet, J.T. Barrett is missing just one.
And that’s quickly changing.
Already a record-setting quarterback at a premier program like Ohio State, Barrett’s 9-1 record as the Buckeyes’ starter has him on the verge of an invitation to New York as a finalist for college football’s most prestigious individual award.
According to Bovada, Barrett currently possesses the third-best odds (15-1) to walk away with this season’s Heisman Trophy, trailing only Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota (2-5) and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (9-4).
While this year’s Heisman appears to be Mariota’s to lose, there’s a compelling case that Barrett deserves to have his name spoken in the same vein.
What Mariota has done and meant for the 9-1 Ducks has been more than impressive, but the redshirt freshman Barrett’s numbers have been comparable.
Mariota has compiled more passing yards, a higher passer rating and fewer interceptions than Barrett has through 10 games, but the Buckeyes signal-caller has accounted for more rushing yards and as many total touchdowns as Mariota has, with three games likely remaining on each of their respective schedules.
Those numbers would indicate that Mariota is deserving of his status as the current Heisman front-runner, although perhaps not by as wide of a margin as the Las Vegas odds currently favor him by.
But fair or not, Mariota entered the season as a…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: JT Barrett’s Case for the Heisman Trophy
