Between the eastern location and opponent across the field, Ohio State’s trip to College Park, Maryland, on Saturday hardly seemed like a traditional Big Ten opener for the Buckeyes.
But what was familiar for Ohio State was the outcome—a 52-24 mashing of Maryland—and its feeling afterward, as the Buckeyes re-established their status as the conference favorite heading into the heart of the 2014 campaign.
A big part of that was the play of redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, who for the third consecutive game showed steady improvement following Ohio State’s Sept. 6 loss to Virginia Tech.
In just three quarters and one drive in the fourth quarter, Barrett compiled 338 total yards and five touchdowns, engineering a Buckeyes offense that tallied 533 yards against the overmatched Terrapins.
“He’s a very good quarterback. He had some nice throws,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer told ESPN sideline reporter Todd McShay after the game. “J.T.’s one of our strong points right now.”
No, Barrett isn’t Braxton Miller, the two-time Big Ten MVP whom he replaced due to injury just two weeks prior to the start of the season.
But what Barrett has accomplished in the weeks following OSU’s defeat at the hands of the Hokies has been as much as anyone could have asked from the Wichita Falls, Texas, native, who is likely on his way to being named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week for the fourth time in five games this season.
“A young guy like that on the road,” Meyer…
Continue Reading: J.T. Barrett Finally Ready to Lead Ohio State on Big Ten Title Run
