Ohio State football: Returning QB, center put Urban Meyer’s mind at ease … at least a little

COLUMBUS — With just three returning starters on offense, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is thankful two of them happen to be quarterback J.T. Barrett and veteran offensive lineman Pat Elflein, who will start at center. After losing most of his offensive weapons — most notably running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receivers Michael Thomas, Braxton Miller andJalin Marshall — and three offensive linemen, Meyer will look to Barrett and Elflein to lead the inexperienced team. Both are team captains for the 2016 season, along with middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan. “If you were trying to break in a new quarterback and a new center, you probably have no shot,” Meyer said Tuesday after the team’s third practice of the spring. “The fact that these two guys are back, we have a shot. I think we have a decent shot of being good on offense, and it’s mostly due to those two guys coming back.” Barrett enters spring practice as the undisputed starter at quarterback for the first time. The redshirt junior, the only QB on the roster with any game experience, became the starter early in 2014 when Braxton Miller was injured, and went 11-1 before he hurt his ankle and yielded to Cardale Jones, who led the Buckeyes to the national championship. Last year at this time, Barrett and Jones were locked in one of the most intriguing quarterback derbies in the nation. Barrett took over midseason for Jones, who has since left for the NFL Draft. “His value is more than running and throwing,” Meyer said of Barrett. “His value is, he’s one of the best leaders we’ve ever had.” Meyer has said redshirt freshman Joe Burrow, the 2014 Ohio Mr…

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