Ohio State QB Cardale Jones had the chance to cash in at the NFL level after his National Championship run. He chose to state with the Buckeyes, but did he make the right choice?
Much to the chagrin of what seems to be an increasingly large population of anti-Ohio State football fans, the Buckeyes made the college football headlines for one reason or another throughout the entire season.
First it was the season-ending injury to Heisman-Trophy-hopeful Braxton Miller, an injury that was thought to have derailed Ohio State’s season before it even started. Then, the eventual success of the Buckeyes’ season remained uncertain after an early — and less-than-flattering — loss to Virginia Tech in Columbus. Next, there was tragedy when former walk-on Kosta Karageorge committed suicide during the last week of the regular season. That same week, redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett went down with a nasty lower leg injury that subsequently ended his season and many believed ended the Buckeyes’ National Championship aspirations as well.
With Barrett, who many regarded as the savior of the Buckeyes season, watching from the sidelines, the team had to turn to a very inexperienced redshirt sophomore quarterback in Cardale Jones for the three most important games of the season. Jones would earn the first three starts of his college career during the Big Ten Championship, the Sugar Bowl, and the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship.
As everyone reading already knows, Jones led the Buckeyes to three consecutive wins to earn the school its eighth National Championship, and he did so in pretty spectacular fashion.
During the three-game span, Jones completed 46 of his 75 total passes (61 percent) and averaged over 16 yards per completion. He threw five touchdowns and just two interceptions in the span as well. And let’s not forget the most important statistic of all — he won all three games.
As a result of Jones’ late-season heroics, there was speculation that he might end his brief, albeit successful Buckeye career and take his talents to the NFL after just three collegiate starts.
I’m going to be honest, what Jones was able to do in just three games this season was remarkable, amazing even, and there may never be another “rags to riches” story quite like this one in college football. But nonetheless, the idea that Jones should have declared for the 2015 NFL Draft is utter comedy in my opinion.
Yes, Jones couldn’t have done much better in his three starts. He has speed, an incredibly strong arm that has earned him the nickname “12 Gauge,” not to mention a 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame that makes defenders quiver when they see him coming. And of course, he has achieved national champion status.
All the accolades aside, he still only has three starts, he has demonstrated immaturity in the past with his now infamous tweet, which read: "Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL. We ain't come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS."
Lastly, I can’t say with certainty that Jones is the best quarterback on the Buckeye depth chart let alone a top NCAA quarterback.
Cardale Jones could have been drafted this May and had millions of dollars in his pockets shortly thereafter, but staying at Ohio State was not only his best decision, it was the right decision. He will have time to mature both on and off the field, gain valuable knowledge and experience, and most importantly earn a degree, all of which will make Jones a better NFL quarterback one day.
As for the future of Jones, we will just have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure, I do not envy the decisions Urban Meyer will have to make this summer.
Christopher Miller is a junior studying broadcast journalism and sports management. How do you think the NFL can become more diverse? Let him know at cm001111@ohio.edu or @MLLRC93.
