J.T. Barrett's dad: Braxton Miller should be starting QB heading into fall camp

Joe Barrett wants his son to earn the opportunity to start for Buckeyes the right way: earning the role from senior Braxton Miller.

Ohio State's three-man battle to become the Buckeyes' starting quarterback will come to a head during fall camp, where head coach Urban Meyer will decide between three successful options: Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, or the veteran Miller.

While no parent would be faulted for championing their child above the rest, the elder Barrett thinks Miller should enter camp as the starter he once was - and then his son, along with Jones, should attempt to take his job.

"Of course I would love to see my kid start, but for me it always goes back to who was first," Joe told the Columbus Dispatch's Tim May. "If Braxton hadn't gotten hurt, I would still be waiting for my baby to get the chance to play. I was thankful J.T. got that chance … and we were all blessed that he was ready to compete, but like I have told everybody, I don't want to see my kid take a position because of the misfortune of someone else.

"In other words, Braxton should get that position back, then everybody else should go try to take it from him."

Jones recently revealed in an interview that he shares this mentality, hoping to prove himself in camp because he has "two guys in front" of him.

Injury thrust the Buckeyes into this unique circumstance.

After Miller suffered a severe injury to his throwing shoulder in preseason practice last year, sidelining him for the entire season, J.T. stepped up to lead the team to the Big Ten East title. He saw his record-setting season come to an end against Michigan when the Texas native suffered a right ankle fracture.

Then came Jones, the third-stringer who led his team to victories in both the Sugar Bowl and national championship.