Why is this news?: Cardale Jones says he is behind Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett

"Jones considers himself still a third-stringer on the most loaded unit in the nation at the most important position in the game."

-Austin Ward, ESPN

The culture within the Ohio State football program right now is impressive.  So much so that the quarterback who won the three biggest games of the season is naming himself third string; and you can tell he means it.  This is not a case of Cardale giving lip service to to a lofty ideal like "hard work" or "togetherness."  Citing that he still has many things to work on, Jones feels third string is where he belongs at the current moment.  That belief just runs contrary to how many Buckeye fans and pundits feel about the quarterback situation at Ohio State.

Jones feels his leadership skills and on-field communication improved during spring ball, while still acknowledging however, that he has room to improve in both categories.  Jones' self awareness is refreshing; the man is taking a realistic look at the depth chart and seeing the two-time Big Ten MVP and a second quarterback who set the big Ten records for total touchdowns.  In the end I think it will be Cardale who lines up under center against Virginia Tech, and I love how Jones continues to highlight the amount of work he still needs to put in.

"Bovada currently has Fournette with 8-to-1 odds of winning, tied for third-best with Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott and Georgia running back Nick Chubb."

-Bill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Ezekiel Elliott is good at football.  Because of this fact he is projected by many to be a leading candidate to land the Heisman trophy following the upcoming college football season.  But because it's always advisable to know your enemy, Landis is counting down the top ten challengers to Elliott's crown as college football's best.  Leonard Fournette is the latest to check in, ranking fifth on the list; and in my opinion is the first "real" challenger to Elliott for the honor.  The sophomore to be figures to get many more carries this year and thus figures to put up more impressive numbers; not that his freshman campaign was anything to scoff at as he ran for over 1,000 yards.

Elliott is a better overall back than Fournette, but it's not hard to imagine Fournette rumbling through the SEC this year and earning a trip to the Heisman ceremony.  I just don't expect him to win the award.

"The offseason started with a bang when Cardale Jones announced he was returning to Ohio State for his redshirt junior season."

-David Regimbal, Bleacher Report

It has been quite the off-season for the Ohio State football program.  It started with Cardale declaring his intentions to return next year, and has included the continuing saga of the Braxton Miller transfer rumors.  Along the way the spring game happened and Ezekiel Elliott had a second wrist surgery in less than 12 months.  Oh, and Urban landed yet another top ten recruiting class.

Time flies when you are having fun.  It seems like only yesterday that I was joyfully dancing around my living room during the wee hours of January 13.  The current off-season has been about what we expected, which means it has so far been a successful off-season.  Unexpected situations during the off-season are bad; think drunken players urinating around Columbus and freak injuries to key players.   I like expected off-seasons.

"There's even a Cardale Jones-Matthew Dellavedova comparison to be made."

-Doug Lesmerises, Northeast Ohio Media Group

With the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors currently doing battle in the NBA Finals, Lesmerises finds eight similarities between the Cavs and Buckeyes.

As both an Ohio State and Cavs fan, it is impossible not to notice the similarity between the storylines.  There reached a point during the football season when you just knew there was something about this team and the way they came together after losing two of their best players.  The playoffs for the Cavs have been no different.  Not only has Kevin Love gone down, but Kyrie Irving also joined him on the "out for the year" list.  The Cavs have not missed a beat, led by the alien known as LeBron James.  I feel good about the Cavs' chances.  After all, we know how the Ohio State football season ended.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• I think Ezekiel Elliott would be good at this.
• In other news, Marion has king pins of heroin.
• Looking for a good deal?
• Is this real life?