Ohio State then redshirt sophomore quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on Oct. 20 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Lantern file photo

Ohio State then redshirt sophomore quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on Oct. 20 at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Lantern file photo

Ohio State redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Barrett woke up to find his name on the Davey O’Brien Award watch list. He is one of 30 quarterbacks placed on the watch list.

The Davey O’Brien award is an award given to a player deemed to be the best quarterback in the NCAA. Last season’s winner was Clemson sophomore Deshaun Watson.

After splitting time with then-senior Cardale Jones at the quarterback position in the beginning of the 2015 season, Barrett took over as the full-time starter for the Buckeyes after their game against Penn State on Oct. 17.

He finished the season with 93 completed passes in 147 attempts (63.3 percent completion rate) that totaled 992 yards, 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also ran 115 times for 682 yards (5.93 average yards per attempt) and scored a touchdown on 11 rushing attempts. If Barrett throws 13 more touchdown passes this season, he will set the OSU record for most touchdown passes in a career.

The current OSU starting quarterback is no stranger to award talk, having been named to the Maxwell Award watch list earlier this month. In his 2014 freshman season, Barrett finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award and was named the recipient of both the Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year and the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year in the Big Ten.
Barrett will get a chance to start building his case for the O’Brien award on Sept. 3 at noon when the Buckeyes take on the Bowling Green Falcons.