Contenders look for edge in OSU’s QB competition

Ryan Day coaches the quarterbacks at Ohio State, and he said Thursday the competition to replace fouryear starter J.T. Barrett is still wide open, and the three contenders are taking him at his word.

That’s even though speculation continues to favor third-year sophomore Dwayne Haskins Jr. — memorable for his work last season in a win over Michigan — over junior Joe Burrow and redshirt freshman Tate Martell.

All three were asked Thursday why they think they deserve the job, and Burrow’s answer sufficed as a composite.

“I think I’m the best, obviously, and I’m just trying to go out every day and prove that to people, prove that to you guys, prove that to fans, and prove that to the coaches,” Burrow said.

After serving as the backup to Barrett in 2016, Burrow suffered a broken bone in his right hand in preseason camp last year just as the competition with Haskins for the backup job was coming to a head. When Haskins delivered against Michigan in place of an injured Barrett, it made him the favorite and fueled speculation that Burrow might transfer.

“I was convinced that it was going to be an open competition and that’s why I wanted to stay and give it my best shot,” said Burrow, who will earn his business degree this spring, giving him the option to transfer to another Football Bowl Subdivision school and play immediately. “And they said they’ll make a decision soon (after spring practice) and we’ll see.”

Day understands the speculation accompanying the most important job competition on the Buckeyes this spring and the assumption that Haskins would have a leg up.

“He did a nice job in that (Michigan) game, but now, this is a new year, so these guys have got to come out and compete,” Day said. “Just like anything else, what have you done for me lately? So he’s got to prove himself to be the starter, just like the other guys.”

Haskins said Thursday he knows what he needs to show as spring progresses.

“Just kind of what J.T. showed them, that he owned the offense, owned the team” with passing proficiency, among other things, Haskins said. “That’s what I’m working on every day, how can I get this person better, how can I talk to the offensive line and give them something different they haven’t experienced before.”

Martell always comes third in the speculation, but despite being decidedly shorter than the other two, he stands tall as a playmaker, especially when plays break down, as new defensive co-coordinator Alex Grinch attested.

“That’s a scary guy moving around,” said Grinch, who coaches the safeties. “He punishes you for good coverage.”

That’s the idea, said Martell, who went 43-0 as a starter in high school in Las Vegas.

“I feel good with where I’m at and what I’m doing, and the progress that I’m making,” Martell said. “Obviously, I was hoping that after a guy left … that there would be an open competition. Like I’ve said before, I didn’t come here to sit on the bench.”