BALTIMORE – No Braxton Miller and no Carlos Hyde, can freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett lead the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2014?
Days before kicking off their 125th season of football on the banks of the Olentangy, the Buckeyes would see their Heisman Trophy hopeful in Miller, reinjure his right shoulder in practice, all but derailing hopes of an eighth national title coming back to Columbus.
With bruising running back Hyde now a member of the San Francisco 49ers, the task of leading the No.5-ranked Buckeyes falls squarely on the shoulders of Barrett.
Barrett, a 6’1, 225-pound native of Wichita Falls, Texas inherits a team that despite the loss of Miller has talent on offense in Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith will be able to take some of the pressure off of Barrett.
The defense will be much improved from last year’s suspect unit that folded late against Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson in Joey Bosa, Adolphus Washington, Curtis Grant and Doran Grant expected to step up in 2014.
While the Buckeyes will have to contend with a pesky navy team and their vaunted triple-option, the Buckeyes should be more than up to the challenge in Baltimore.
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