The Ohio State Buckeyes seem all but confirmed to be heading into the regular season with three quarterbacks.
Speaking with the Big Ten Network, Ohio State University athletic director Gene Smith said he believes Braxton Miller will not capitalize on the NCAA's graduate transfer rule. Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer still has yet to announce his week-one starter, but every week that passes seems to lower the chances Miller actually leaves Ohio State.
"I am pretty confident any kid could flip," Smith said. "In my conversation, which was well before spring ball started and he was rehabbing, he was committed to coming back. He was taking courses and coming back. I don't have any reason to believe he won't be back."
Ohio State's National Title run in the first year of the College Football Playoff was as improbable as it gets. Miller missed the entire season with a shoulder injury, giving way to J.T. Barrett, a freshman, playing at a Heisman-caliber level to lead the Buckeyes to the Big Ten tournament championship.
Then Cardale Jones stepped in to deliver three wins for the Big Ten title, Sugar Bowl Game and National Championship. All three decided to stay at Ohio State, making it Meyer's job to pick the best one to start week one.
Miller is the only player who could transfer without penalty thanks to the same NCAA rule that allowed Everett Golson to leave Notre Dame for Florida State. But both Smith and Meyer seem echoed a similar sentiment regarding the two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
"Obviously, young people or anyone is allowed to change their mind. I have not heard [Miller is transferring]," Meyer told the Dan Patrick Show in April. "I did not ask him, one of our strength coaches did, and he said, 'I don't know where that's coming from.' So I would say Braxton is staying, is all indications that I'm getting. I don't go by hearsay. I just talk to the people involved and he seems to be very happy and excited for 2015 as a Buckeye."
