On Saturday, junior quarterback J.T. Barrett broke the Ohio State passing touchdown record for a career. This is the 12th school record that Barrett now holds. He is easily among the best quarterbacks in Ohio State history, but how does he stack up against all Buckeyes? Among the best Buckeyes of all time, there are greats such as Archie Griffin, Eddie George, and Troy Smith. All three have won Heisman awards as well as three other Buckeyes. A Heisman Award is one of the few factors that can give others an advantage over Barrett, but he still has a chance at winning one. Here is why Barrett is the best player in Ohio State history.
J.T. Barrett: The Best Player in Ohio State History
Records
Records are one of the easiest ways to determine who is the better player. Barring injury, every player has 12 chances to show just how good they are against a variety of opponents. Barrett currently holds an Ohio State record 12 record titles. Griffin had a total of 7 while George had 6. Smith, one of the only arguable quarterbacks better than Barrett, only held 3 records.
However, just holding the record may not be enough to satisfy some people. Even if players are not putting up record staggering numbers every week, consistency should count as well. This is also where Barrett shines. In the official Ohio State record book, Barrett’s name appears 80 times. Barrett’s 80 appearances is overshadowed by Griffin’s 86 and also ties Smith. However, other Ohio State greats such as Art Schlichter, George, and Ted Ginn Jr. show up less times. Schlichter appears 75 times, George appears 68 times, and Ginn Jr. appears 49 times. Once the season ends, Barrett will likely add his name to several lists, including 2016 stats leaders and several game records. By the end of the season, it is almost certain that Barrett will be the leading record holder in Ohio State history.
Compared to Other Buckeye Greats
If records were not enough to prove that Barrett is the best player in Ohio State history, comparing him to quarterbacks of Ohio State’s past may. The best two true quarterbacks to compare him to are Troy Smith and Art Schlichter.
All three were also fairly mobile, each gaining over 500 yards rushing in at least one season. Through his two complete seasons, Barrett has gained 938 yards and 682 yards with 11 touchdowns each year. Smith’s best two seasons rushing were 611 yards and 339 yards with 11 and 2 touchdowns respectively. Schlichter’s best two seasons were 590 yards and 430 yards with 13 and 9 touchdowns respectively. From this, it is clear that Barrett is the best rusher, but is very similar in finding the endzone to Schlichter. Barrett is on pace for roughly 600 yards rushing and 9 touchdowns this season.
In the passing game, it is hard to judge passing yards with quarterbacks from three different eras. However, comparing touchdown to interception ratios have stayed relatively similar throughout the decades. As of now, Barrett has a 59 touchdown to 16 interception ratio after just breaking the record for career touchdowns this past weekend. During his time at Ohio State, Smith had a 54 to 13 touchdown to interception ratio which is almost as impressive. It took Smith 32 games to accomplish this while it only took Barrett 27 games. Schlichter on the other hand is not even in the competition of the two. He had a 50 to 46 ratio after playing 48 games for the Buckeyes. With the remainder of the season and a possible senior year ahead, there is no telling just how good Barrett can be.
Overall
When looking at the Buckeye greats, Barrett’s name has to come up. In a little over two seasons, one splitting time, he has redefined the expectations that Ohio State fans have for their quarterback and is breaking records weekly. Whether you determine the best by the amount of records they hold, or their actual stats, Barrett is the best player to ever put on a scarlet jersey.
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