Kegerator Nation

by Mike Zimmer

Honestly, I’m not sure what to think of Cardale Jones and whether he made the right decision to return to Columbus and continue on his path as a Buckeye.  After an unbelievable run this past couple months and springing into the limelight of stardom at The Ohio State University has been a whirlwind for Buckeyes fans and for Jones.  He went from the kid who tweeted perhaps one of the most asinine things a college football player could (though, let’s face it, he was being honest for a good majority of college football players) to becoming this beacon of redemption and success which is going to make him a folk hero if he can manage not to revert to knucklehead status.

I genuinely hope the best for the kid.  You get a sense that he grew up this year, and after multiple reports about his past and present you want a kid like this to do and be the best he can.  Let’s face it, he came from nothing, survived that not angry but humble and thankful for the people who gave him a hand up.  He was admittedly lazy and defiant at a turn but again resilient in turning the corner from going from an inner city boy to a college campus man in a very quick amount of time.  You want to root for a kid who seems to finally have “got it” and is trying to do the best he can for himself.

Which, begs the question: did he do that in deciding to come back to Ohio State?  The facts are blunt and hard not to ignore, there was a lot of money at stake in his decision making.  Especially for a kid who is being thrust so quickly into the spotlights and has never really thought about the kind of money he’d be coming in contact with.  Ultimately, he was humble again and said he wasn’t ready for the NFL.  I think we all know that deep down.  Even he has to admit, 3-games at the collegiate level does not make an NFL star in wait.

Yet, the talk was whispered from all sides.  With it, somewhere there was talk about his 6’5, 245lbs frame and that cannon for an arm.  This wasn’t self hype, this was manufactured out of talk from NFL people and NFL commentators taking notice.  Jones has a skill set that the NFL is always looking for in QB’s.  In three games, suddenly Cardale Jones is an NFL prospect after spending most of his time at Ohio State buried on a depth chart because let’s face it, he was a knucklehead.  http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/16/cardale-jones-says-press-conference-wasnt-his-idea/

Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is not easy.  But can you imagine the thought of a kid who all he’s ever wanted to do was improve his lot in life and perhaps play football to do that is suddenly presented with the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot and grab the cash that would come with it? In a poor QB class this year, Jones could have sprung into the conversation as a worthwhile investment by an NFL club.  He’d probably come cheap too, more than likely a 3rd-4th or 5th round pick.  But in terms of the individual, the kid from nothing, half a million bucks per season would be likely.  That’s a lot of money to pass up.  Yet, he announced yesterday that he’ll return to Ohio State for 2015.

Worse, this might be it for him to showcase his skill set for at least another year.  There is every chance he may not be better than #2 on the depth chart next fall when J.T. Barrett returns from his broken ankle.  Jones’ talent is hard to ignore, but the fact is, Barrett beat him out this past summer for the starting job after Braxton Miller’s injury and Barrett was the unquestioned leader of that team.  The coaching staff and players alike trusted Barrett.  He too is the future of the Buckeyes program as the signal caller.  While Jones does offer a a very interesting dimension to the Buckeyes play-calling, you wonder if they’d eschew Barrett for Jones for a season and red-shirt Barrett.  It doesn’t seem likely though.  At best, you have a two headed monster on your hands.  That though, almost never works and second guessing starts to manifest.

What of Braxton Miller?  If he too returns (which seems highly unlikely), Jones is suddenly in a 3-way battle with a serious chip on his shoulder.  After all, he did win the Buckeyes the Big Ten by helping destroy Wisconsin with his big play ability, he helped the Buckeyes win their biggest game in over a decade in slaying the dragon that was the SEC’s Alabama Crimson Tide and to cap it all off, he wrote his own legend in the storied book of Buckeye legends by helping Ohio State crush Oregon on the way to the school’s 8th National Championship.  You’re going to take a back seat to not one but two players?

Again, the story on Jones has said repeatedly he’s always only wanted to be in Columbus.  He wanted to be a Buckeye and passed up opportunities to play at Iowa, West Virginia and that school up north to do it.  Arguably, he would have been the star at each of those other places.  Yet, he has decided to come back to Columbus.  He could have and would have been absolutely excused and understood if he had said, he was going to transfer or make the big jump to the NFL.  Doubters on both sides would have a field day if he failed, but in the end, big money or an opportunity would have said in the end, he actually won.

Personally I’m torn.  As a Buckeye fan, I want my beloved team to win.  If you ask me, J.T. Barrett is this program’s guy for the next few years.  However you cannot deny the fascination with Cardale Jones.  More, I want to root for that kid, I really do.  It’s an embarrassment of riches in Columbus for the Buckeyes and in the world for us fans.  We’ve almost written off Braxton Miller and an after thought and sadly, it’s a shame because he’s been nothing but a model citizen, a good student and a humbly background figure this past year.  He too has decisions to make and no one can fault him for them if they aren’t with the Buckeyes.

My hope is, Cardale Jones in the end succeeds.  No matter how it comes, no matter which path it follows, but he succeeds and his legacy, built in all of 3-games or in 13, 14, or 15 this next year is secure, with the young man succeeding in not only football but life.