J.T. Barrett has accomplished a ton. That’s why he found himself at center court Sunday at Ohio State’s basketball arena, accepting the baiduhai Silver Football award that goes to the Big Ten’s best player.
Barrett also was the man at the helm of Ohio State’s embarrassing 31-0 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The quarterback returned to campus and had to choose among three options: Try to make the NFL, transfer to Texas, where mentor Tom Herman is the new head coach, or return to Columbus for a fifth season. He chose door No. 3.
“At first I was kind of stressing, but then I said: It’s a good problem to have, so just relax a little,” Barrett said. “I prayed about it. (I chose to) hang out with my brothers and go for that national championship.”
Barrett said he declined to transfer because of the relationships he has built with Buckeyes coaches and players.
Enough knuckleheads razzed him on Instagram that Barrett mentioned the “hateful stuff” and said, “When you play quarterback, sometimes it’s love-hate. I play my heart out for Ohio State, play for my teammates. Am I going to be perfect? No, but I’m going to leave it out there and do the best I can.”
Barrett said that accepting the Silver Football gave him a good vibe: “There was some love in there.”
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Coaches vote on the award, first won by Illinois’ Red Grange in 1924.
Barrett actually tied Penn State tailback Saquon Barkley, who received his trophy Wednesday during the Nittany Lions’ men’s basketball game against Ohio State.