Well, that was anticlimactic.
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones put everyone on notice Thursday, tweeting that he’d make a “life-changing decision” at 4 p.m. ET. Many saw that as a sign the redshirt sophomore would declare for the 2015 NFL draft.
Turns out they were wrong, as Jones held a press conference at his former high school in Cleveland to announce just the opposite.
“I am going to return next year for school,” Jones said, via the Columbus Dispatch, adding that the decision was “very simple.”
The thought of Jones entering the draft would have seemed impossible two months ago, when he was a third-string quarterback behind the injured Braxton Miller and incumbent J.T. Barrett.
Then Barrett went down Nov. 29 against Michigan, and Jones’ first three career starts went as follows: A blowout win over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, an upset of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and a throttling of Oregon in the national championship game.
The fact that Jones generated NFL rumors after just three starts is a testament to his amazing run, but he’ll have some work to do next season, as both Miller (a redshirt junior) and Barrett (a freshman) are expected to return to Columbus next season.
As for Jones’ NFL future? Looks like we’ll have to wait until next year’s press conference.
Thumbnail photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images
