Cardale Jones may only be competing with a redshirt freshman for the Ohio State starting quarterback position, but that is only because the competition has not yet started.

According to ESPN, Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer said two of his three possible starting quarterbacks are still focusing on rehabbing injuries. As a result, redshirt freshman Stephen Collier is sharing the majority of snaps with Jones.

That means little at this point, the very beginning of spring practices, as Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett are still limited in what drills they can partake.

"Each player, each day is separate," Meyer told ESPN. "Today was all about Braxton continuing on his journey to get healthy, which he's done an excellent job. ... Obviously J.T. is a guy who had a leg injury; he's doing a little bit more than I thought he could, so he went through mini-field [reps]. We want to keep pushing him and get him healthy.

"And Cardale is getting more reps than he's ever gotten. It's day to day. How does it play out? I don't know."

The Buckeyes noted on their official website that Collier will be getting a decent amount of attention this spring, given Jones' unlikely rise through the depth chart. Jones received national attention last year for delivering wins in the Big Ten title game, Rose Bowl semifinal and the National Championship in his first three starts in college football.

But he was replacing Barrett, who delivered a one-loss season for the Buckeyes. Barrett was replacing Miller, who was a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite this time last year before he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season.

Both Miller and Jones decided to pass on a chance to be drafted into the NFL and then all three decided to stay at Ohio State. The upcoming competition has little precedent, if any at all, so Meyer is glad he does not have to make a decision for a while.

"I think it's unique," the coach told ESPN. "At that position, I've never had it like that. I've had it at other positions where all of a sudden you have three or four really good receivers, but you play more than one at a time.

"I think at some point there will be some [pressure] because of the great respect I have for those three guys... But there's not right now. We're not even focused on that. I just want to see [Miller] get healthy, J.T. get healthy and Cardale continue to improve."