Ohio State was rolling last season before a rough loss to Michigan State derailed all hopes of repeating as national champions, and nobody seems hungrier for vengeance than returning quarterback J.T. Barrett.
Speaking to local media, including ESPN’s Austin Ward, Barrett spoke of Ohio State’s drive and went so far as to compare the team to a pack of wolves.
Barrett admitted it was hard to find the same mentality last year coming off a title. Buckeyes have something to prove once again.
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) February 17, 2016
J.T. Barrett on Ohio State's winter theme: "Welcome to the Land of the Wolves." Buckeyes are hungry again. pic.twitter.com/BBUQfv2aB4
— Austin Ward (@AWardSports) February 17, 2016
Barrett was a non-factor in the loss to Michigan State last season, completing 9 of 16 passes for just 46 yards in a rain-soaked game that the Spartans won on a field goal as time expired. The Buckeyes went on to beat Notre Dame in the Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl 44-28, but that’s not the same as a second consecutive national championship, for obvious reasons.
Moreover, though Barrett’s passion is inspiring, Ohio State also lost a number of key players to the upcoming NFL Draft, namely star running back Ezekiel Elliott. That said, Barrett’s got a lot of work to do when it comes to rallying his young and inexperienced teammates.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
