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Keeping to his word, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer kept under wraps that Cardale Jones would be OSU's starting quarterback tonight versus Virginia Tech. Jones took the first offensive snap for the Buckeyes for the 2015 season.
Coming off last year's national championship, Meyer is starting the 2015 season with two good options at quarterback. Both quarterbacks entered the year as potential Heisman Trophy candidates.
Meyer said last week the choice between JT Barrett and Jones was a close one. With both quarterbacks possessing similar skillsets, it was easier for Meyer to put off announcing his decision.
"If you look at J.T.'s game plan when he was our quarterback and Cardale, it's very similar," Meyer said. "There is a chance they'll both play as well, so that hasn't really -- in our mindset we're game planning our offense and they're both executing very well."
Before tonight's game versus Virginia Tech, Meyer said he will take the quarterback situation week by week.
"That's not uncommon," Meyer said. "That is the same with the other positions as well. You have to show up every day and compete."
Barrett was on the verge of getting an invitation to New York last season before having a season-ending injury against Michigan. Despite the injury and missing the Big Ten Championship Game, Barrett finished fifth in Heisman voting. Barrett replaced two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Braxton Miller who had a season-ending shoulder injury last August.
Jones took over at quarterback at the end of the regular season last year and led the Buckeyes past Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon en route to the Buckeyes' first national title in 12 years.
With Barrett and Jones healthy, Miller opted to move from quarterback to wide receiver, leaving Jones and Barrett to battle for the starting quarterback position.