Ex-Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett keeps chasing NFL dream with Steelers

J.T. Barrett was one of football’s biggest stars on Saturdays.

For four years, he started at quarterback for one of college football’s marquee programs, winning a national championship and playing in other major bowl games for Ohio State.

But accounting for 147 touchdowns and 12,000 yards of offense in the Big Ten only gets you so far in the NFL. So, as one of the lower-priority of the bevy of prospects NFL evaluators came to see at Ohio State’s Pro Day two years ago, Pittsburgh Steelers brass on hand had their attention on Barrett’s teammates and not as much on him.

That didn’t mean Barrett didn’t get to meet Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. But instead of impressing a prospective future employer, Barrett was more concerned with impressing his mother.

“I didn’t have any draft contact with the Steelers,” Barrett said. “The only thing was, I talked to Coach Tomlin after my pro day. I met him, and my mom was a huge fan of his — so I just went to introduce him to my mom.”

Mom must have been proud, then, when Tomlin’s Steelers signed her son Christmas Eve.

Barrett ran the scout team the final week of the Steelers’ season, providing his best impersonation of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Three years after Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, Barrett finished fifth in the balloting for the award in 2014. Griffin was a No. 2 overall draft pick. Barrett went undrafted and had to attend the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp, getting a contract in May 2018.

Not that he’s complaining.

“So, I mean, yeah, I played college football at a high level,” Barrett said. “And I had dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL. So, fortunately to be even here and be in this position — I know some people might think this would stink — but I know it’s a blessing. Like, I play football for a living!”

Barrett does, and he will for the foreseeable future after signing a reserve/future contract with the Steelers last week. But few can tell you how fleeting that is.

It was the 31st NFL transaction Barrett has been part of— 14 times he has been released or waived during a span of 19 months. But the three-time Big Ten Quarterback of the Year keeps perspective.

“It’s a crazy life that I think a lot of fans may not see,” Barrett said. “They see the big-name people who have job security, and although they work really hard to get where they are at, there are different avenues that some have to go to be a professional.

“It has been a crazy ride, but it’s a blessing one all the same. And I’m grateful just for the opportunity because I was at home in Dallas, so to come in here and be able to run the scout team for a week is just a blessing for an opportunity.”

Barrett, in all likelihood, was probably signed just for that one week. The Steelers had lost a quarterback (Mason Rudolph) to injury two days earlier so were short a practice arm, and Barrett’s skill set meshed well with Griffin’s.

Still, getting signed to the Steelers offseason roster provides a glimmer of hope for Barrett’s future. He’ll be able to work out at the facility and endear himself to coaches in the coming months. A well-spoken three-year captain at Ohio State, NFL scouts always liked Barrett’s intangibles.

But despite his 38-6 record in college, two College Football Playoff berths and two New Year’s Six bowl MVP awards, Barrett is just another “nameless gray face” (to use Tomlin parlance) scratching and clawing for an NFL roster spot.

“Do I feel like I can play in the NFL? I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” Barrett said.

“It’s all a process, right? You talk about not just football but life, you have to start off somewhere, right? And then from there, you grow or you decline.

“I’m still just grinding because I still love the game of football. I still think I have the ability to play, and I still want to play. From there, it’s just trying to make it, working hard and trying to keep getting better every day.”

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