COLUMBUS, Ohio — After entering the gym of his high school alma mater to the anthem of Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” while wearing a gray T-shirt bearing his nickname, “12 Gauge,” Cardale Jones stood in front of a national audience prepared to reveal a “life-changing decision.”
But when Jones finally made his announcement—which was delayed two hours to allow Columbus television stations time to arrive in Cleveland—he caught most off guard, as many expected the Ohio State quarterback to enter the upcoming NFL draft.
“I’m going to return next year for school,” Jones announced in front of cameras from no fewer than three national TV stations. “The NFL after three games was really out of the question for me.”
That may be debatable, as in the hours leading up to Jones’ revealing of his decision, analysts projected that the 6’5″, 250-pounder would have been selected between the second and fourth rounds of the upcoming draft.
Now Jones heads back to a situation where he’s not even guaranteed to be the Buckeyes’ starter, with third-team All-American J.T. Barrett expected to recover from his fractured ankle and two-time Big Ten MVP Braxton Miller’s status still up in the air.
But while Ohio State prepares for what could be a quarterback battle for the ages, Jones will improbably be the favorite to be the Buckeyes’ starter when they take the field on Sept. 7 for their 2015 season opener against Virginia Tech. Should Miller return along with…
Continue Reading: Cardale Jones Should Be the Favorite to Start at QB for Ohio State in 2015
