« Football 2017

J.T.  Barrett

School
Ohio State
Position
Quarterback
Major
Communications

Classroom

J.T. Barrett graduated in December 2016 with a degree in communications. He completed an internship in Bristol, Conn., at ESPN in May 2016.

Character

Barrett has been a team-leader since day one. He is a fifth-year senior who is 28-5 as a starting quarterback and who is on pace to become Ohio State’s all-time leading passer as well as one of the Top 10 rushers in school history. He is the first three-time captain in school history. Eight players in 127 previous Ohio State football seasons have been two-time captains.

Community

“My mom taught me early on that you help people who may not have the same things you do. I think it’s just part of being a good person and understanding that God has blessed you.” - J.T. Barrett

Barrett has been a leader among Buckeyes in community service activities, including multiple visits each year to visit patients at the OSU Wexner Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and in team visits each year to two local food pantries: LifeCARE Alliance and the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Competition

Barrett has now set 25 school and Big Ten records, including the Big Ten mark for most touchdowns responsible for (107). He is a four-year starting quarterback who, as of nomination time, has thrown for 7,138 yards (3rd at Ohio State) and 74 touchdowns (1st) and rushed for 2,624 yards (14th) with 33 touchdowns. He will become the 10th Buckeye to rush for 3,000 yards. He has finished among the top 10 vote getters for the Heisman Trophy twice, including 5th in 2014. He was named the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award winner, which is voted on by the conference head coaches and given to the Big Ten’s best player. He has also been named the Big Ten Conference’s Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year twice (2014, 2016) and a first-team All-Big Ten quarterback twice (2014, 2016). His play has helped the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoffs twice and Ohio State has been ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation by the Associated Press for 42 consecutive weeks.