Barrett isn’t bothered by being out of spotlight
INDIANAPOLIS — J.T. Barrett stood at Podium 5 at the NFL combine on Friday. In front of him was a modest crowd of about 20 reporters.
Four podiums to Barrett’s right, a sea of media had flocked to see Sam Darnold.
The Southern California quarterback is expected to be an early first-round pick in April’s draft. Barrett is not. In fact, some analysts question whether he’ll be drafted at all, despite a career at Ohio State in which he rewrote the school and Big Ten record book.
Asked if it was weird not to be the center of attention, Barrett paused, looked over toward Darnold and gave a wry smile.
“Nah, I’m good,” he said.
This wasn’t an attempt to hide a bruised ego. Barrett always has viewed the spotlight that accompanies playing quarterback as a duty he accepted more than relished. He’d rather just grind away behind the scenes.
That’s what he’s been doing since finishing his Ohio State career with a 24-7 victory over Darnold’s Trojans in the Cotton Bowl. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and has been training with Tom Shaw at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Barrett said he has been concentrating on improving his footwork and getting used to taking snaps under center, something he rarely did at Ohio State. As for draft analysts such as ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, who have questioned whether Barrett has the physical skills to make it as a pro quarterback, Barrett seemed unbothered.
“How much faith do I have in myself?” Barrett asked rhetorically. “I have some confidence. I’m not the type to voice it. I want to showcase it on the field. That’s what I plan to do. I think I did a good job of preparing and being ready for this moment. I have confidence in myself, yes.”
Barrett doesn’t have the strongest or mostaccurate arm, and draft analysts question how well and quickly he goes through his reads in the pocket. He believes his recent emphasis on footwork has helped his accuracy.
What’s his sales pitch to NFL teams about his strengths?
“Being able to extend plays and being able to run the ball and not standing in the pocket like a lightpost,” Barrett said. “I’m going to move around and make throws on the run and elevate the people around me.”
That leadership has been Barrett’s calling card since he was in high school in Wichita Falls, Texas.
“I think whatever team gets him is going to get a great worker and a great leader,” Buckeyes left tackle Jamarco Jones said. “He’s probably the best leader I’ve ever been around and he’s tough as nails. The guy had surgery and went out and played the next week in the Big Ten championship.
“That sums up the type of guy he is. He’s going to give whatever team takes him everything he has.”
Barrett said he has had no problems with the knee that required arthroscopic surgery six days before the conference title game against Wisconsin.
Even before he was finished at Ohio State, there was speculation that Barrett would eventually become a coach. Asked about his post-football career Friday, Barrett replied, “Right now, I’m not really sure. I’m putting everything I have into this dream of mine of playing in the NFL. After football, I’m going to have success in what I do.”