Ohio State confirms season-ending shoulder injury for Braxton Miller, who plans to return in 2015

The worst kept secret in college football was confirmed by the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday evening – quarterback Braxton Miller has suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing shoulder.

The injury occurred in Monday's afternoon practice session. Miller was not hit on the play. He was recovering from off-season shoulder surgery after injuring his right shoulder in the 2014 Orange Bowl against Clemson. The latest injury will require further surgery to the shoulder.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Braxton and his family," Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said in a statement, released through the school's official athletics website. "This is an unfortunate injury to a young man who means so much to this program and to Buckeye nation."

In his statement, Miller offered Buckeyes fans a very intriguing revelation about his future plans.

"I love Ohio State and Buckeye nation, and my goal is to come back from this injury stronger and better than ever," Miller said. "I am on course to graduate in December and I want to attend graduate school, and then return to lead the Buckeyes next season. In the meantime, I want to give all the support I can to my coaches and teammates as they chase a championship this season."

Miller has not yet redshirted, and will get an additional year of eligibility in 2015. He currently ranks ninth in the history of the program in passing yards with 5,292, and eighth in rushing yards with 3,054.

Meyer announced on Saturday that redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett had moved ahead of redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones on the team's depth chart and is the logical choice to replace Miller as the team's starting quarterback in 2014.