As if there was ever really any doubt, the quarterbacking catalyst of Ohio State’s run to a national championship last year confirmed, again, that he’s gone.
Shortly after OSU’s last-second loss to Michigan State last month, Cardale Jones revealed via Twitter that he had would not be returning to the Buckeyes next season. While most took that to mean the obvious, that Jones would be off to the NFL early after flirting with the pros last year, there was a school of thought that Jones could move on to another school as a graduate transfer for his final season of eligibility.
Wednesday, as OSU prepares for their New Year’s Day date with Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, Jones reaffirmed that game will be his swan song in a college football uniform as he will indeed make himself available for the April NFL draft. Jones also very strongly asserted that playing anywhere but for the Buckeyes was not even remotely a consideration.
“No, I don’t want to be a 24-year-old college student,” Jones when asked if he had any future beyond Friday as a college football player. “I have one more semester of school left and that was my whole focus of coming back to OSU, getting closer to my degree. Two classes are not going to influence my decision of coming back to college.
“My loyalty, my heart is at Ohio State. I would come back and sit another year before I would transfer to any school. So no, I don’t want to go anywhere but Ohio State.”
Following his stunning run through the 2014-15 postseason, which saw Jones, who began that season as the No. 3 quarterback, secure wins over Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game and Alabama and Oregon in the College Football Playoff, the majority opinion was that the then-redshirt sophomore would’ve been a sure-fire first-round pick in the 2015 draft if he came out early. He didn’t, and was ultimately benched this season after beginning the year as the starter.
The decision to return coupled with the level of play that led to his benching could very well cost Jones both draft slotting and initial contract dollars. Still, he doesn’t sound like a young man who regrets his decision. At all.
“I really don’t pay attention to my draft stock at all,” Jones said. “Anything can happen. But I think my life stock improved, being closer to my degree next semester. It’s 10 times more important than getting drafted.”
Coming from an individual who caused quite the controversy with his “Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL?” tweet a couple of years ago, that’s quite the shift in sentiment.
