Quarterback J.T. Barrett carried the Ohio State Buckeyes for most of their improbable championship run in 2014, but an ankle injury against the Michigan Wolverines prevented him from carrying the Buckeyes across the finish line.
That injury opened the door for Cardale Jones, who used his cannon arm and the otherworldly speed of Devin Smith to slice through the Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon secondaries on Ohio State's way to a national title.
Barrett watched on the sideline as his backup orchestrated that postseason tear, and over the ensuing nine months, he silently listened to people criticize his arm strength in comparison to Jones.
On Thursday after practice, he couldn't keep quiet any longer. Barrett was asked about his ability to throw the deep ball, which prompted an unexpected rant, according to Eric Seger of Eleven Warriors.
I was just like that's crazy to me because if you go back and watch film, I threw a lot of deep balls. Were some underthrown? Absolutely. That was earlier in the year. I got better as the year went on, but I was like, 'Man, do I have a weenie arm?' In the offseason it was in my head all the time lifting weights, because I feel like I can throw the ball deep. I felt like y'all were talking bad about me.
His message was loud and clear, but his play last Saturday against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights may have been the bigger statement.
In his first start of the season, Barrett completed 14 of 18 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. He didn't make a lot of throws as the coaching staff eased him back into full swing, but he was accurate when he worked the ball down the field. He had a pair of nice deep passes to Braxton Miller (45 yards) and Curtis Samuel (30), the latter of whom went for a touchdown. And one of his four incompletions was a perfectly placed pass over two defenders that would have been a 42-yard touchdown, if not for a drop from Michael Thomas.
It served as a reminder of how good Barrett was last year. As a redshirt freshman last year, eight of his 34 touchdown passes went for 40 yards or more, and while all of those weren't deep passes, it's still a credit to his big-play ability.
But Barrett's comments Thursday suggested he grew tired of the negativity thrown his way this offseason, and now as the leader of an offense loaded with firepower, he's motivated to prove his doubters wrong.
And that's exactly what Ohio State needs as it enters the homestretch of the season.
The Buckeyes' schedule was back-loaded this season. They'll come out of the bye week to face a solid Minnesota team before traveling to face the surprisingly improved Illinois Fighting Illini. But of course, that's just the warm-up before Ohio State faces its stiffest competition of the season with season-ending games against Michigan State and Michigan.
And when the Buckeyes are in crunch time, they'll lean on their leader.
If Barrett stays healthy and continues to prove his doubters wrong, he won't have to watch from the sidelines during another playoff run.
David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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