Ohio State OL backs J.T. Barrett, says QB change is unnecessary

Ohio State offensive lineman Billy Price knows J.T. Barrett has what it takes to be the starting quarterback of an elite program. Despite some outside chatter of wanting a change under center, Price knows the Buckeyes have the right guy doing the job.

“I don’t think there’s any chance there needs to be a quarterback change,” Price told 247Sports in a recent interview. “I think that for him to continue to work harder, continue for myself to work harder, continue for this offense to put ourselves in better positions to actually execute the ball as we should and as we know to and we’ll be fine.”

Criticism of Barrett started flowing in after the Buckeyes dropped their home opener against Oklahoma 31-16. Barrett finished the game completing 19-of-35 passes for 183 yards. He threw one interception and have a touchdown pass.

Still, the critique of Barrett seems to be a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. After all, he led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 year and the B1G title game as a freshman before getting injured in 2014. Ohio State went on to win the national championship that year.

Last year, Ohio State reached the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons after another 11-1 campaign, but were clobbered by Clemson in the semi-final game.

Price understands what Barrett means to the Buckeyes offense and just how important he’s been to the team’s success. He’s not ready to bail on a guy who has already accomplished so much with the scarlet and gray.

“You’re talking about taking off the most prolific leader in Ohio State history,” Price said. “I think, yeah, it would absolutely split a locker room, and split a locker room in the sense that there’s half J.T. supporters and half A, B, C supporters.”

There’s been no suggestion from Ohio State that the Buckeyes will be making a change at quarterback.

Ohio State hosts Army on Saturday afternoon.