Next season Urban Meyer could find himself with the kind of problem any college football coach would love to have. What does he do if Braxton Miller returns to Columbus?
When Miller first went down with a season-ending shoulder injury before the year began, many thought Ohio State's title hopes had been derailed before the first game, but redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett has been phenomenal in Miller's place and could easily find himself in New York this winter as a Heisman finalist.
Barrett's playing so well, in fact, that it's no longer a given that Miller would resume the starting role were he to return. In September, Meyer didn't seem to have any doubts that Miller would be his starting quarterback in 2015, but that tune has started to change in recent weeks.
"Competition brings out the best, and I'm really excited to have two really good quarterbacks next year, if that's the plan," said Meyer last week. "A lot of people would want either one of them, because I think they're both excellent quarterbacks, excellent quarterbacks, and we'll worry about that day when it comes."
But apparently there's a chance that Meyer won't have to make that decision. According to a report from NFL.com, Miller plans on returning to Columbus next season for now. The report indicates that plans could change, and that it's possible Miller could consider a transfer.
In August, Miller indicated he was on track to graduate this year, and if he does that means he could transfer to another school without having to sit out a season. While Miller hasn't given any hint of a transfer, the NFL.com report says "speculation is swelling" that he's considering the move.
It also mentions the possibility that Miller could return to Ohio State, but as a running back.
I'm not sure that makes the most sense for him, but I suppose that depends on how NFL scouts view his potential as a quarterback at the next level. While I don't know where I'd set the odds of Miller transferring to another school, I do think it's the more likely scenario than the position switch.
Let's not forget that while Barrett has been phenomenal for the Buckeyes this year, Miller wasn't exactly a pushover. In his three seasons as a starter the Buckeyes have gone 29-9 in games he's played, and seven of those losses came during Miller's freshman season. He's gone 24-2 as a starter the last two seasons and is yet to lose a regular season game since Urban Meyer came to Columbus.
He was a Heisman finalist in 2013.
Because of all this, I have a hard time believing that Miller would see the need to transfer. As far as he's concerned he probably feels he can beat Barrett in a quarterback competition, and there's a good chance that he could.
So if I were to forced to bet on where Miller will be in 2015, I'd put my money on Columbus, Ohio, as a quarterback.
