The question of whether Braxton Miller will remain an Ohio State Buckeye in 2015 popped up again Tuesday, with a report suggesting that Florida State “has been told it’s on list of schools [the quarterback] is interested in playing for next year.” FSU was added to a list that includes Duke and Oregon of schools who might be of interest should Miller decide to take his leave.
And that’s the pertinent question: will the 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year take his leave of Columbus?
During the final media briefing prior to the Sugar Bowl clash with Alabama Thursday, OSU head coach Urban Meyer allowed that he’s “had conversations” with Miller about the t-word. That said, “I expect him to be back at Ohio State,” in 2015, Meyer added.
The questions over Miller’s 2015 location first surfaced as J.T. Barrett, following the incumbent’s season-ending injury, morphed from a first-year starter who looked lost and helpless in the loss to Virginia Tech into a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. Those questions ramped up even further when Barrett went down with his own serious injury and his replacement, Cardale Jones, wowed everyone as his performance in his first career start played a significant role in OSU’s blowout of Wisconsin of Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship.
It should be noted that, back in mid-December, Miller’s father was quoted as saying that "[u]nless something drastic changes, that’s his plan [to finish out his career with the Buckeyes], that’s why he went to Ohio State.” Additionally, OSU athletic director Gene Smith stated that, when it comes to transfer talk, “I have never heard that from him.”
There is, though, this caveat from elevenwarriors.com: