Ohio State Football: The Case for Braxton Miller to Start Week 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first reaction went something like, "This is actually happening."

The second reaction? "What's going to be the outcome?"

Shock wave might be too strong of a descriptor, but Braxton Miller certainly sent a ripple through the college football world on Thursday when he confirmed to Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz of the Columbus Dispatch that he plans on remaining at Ohio State for the 2015 season.

And not only does the two-time Big Ten MVP intend on staying in Columbus, but Miller says that it's his initial goal is to reclaim his starting spot as the Buckeyes starting quarterback as he returns from a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder that ended his 2014 season before it ever began.

"The first thing in mind is being a quarterback, and just be smart about what I do,” Miller told the Dispatch in his first public comments since reinjuring his shoulder last August. "If any competition wants to come my way, I’ve just got to be smart about things and just stay looking forward.”

Only it's not a matter of "if" competition will come Miller's way—that competition is already there.

In officially returning to Ohio State, Miller now joins J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones in what will be an unprecedented quarterback derby in Columbus, one where all three participants could argue equal claims to the starting job. Miller announcing his return to OSU was the final step in confirming the situation would come to fruition, as rumors swirled throughout the offseason that he would use his ability as a graduate transfer to spend the 2015 season at another school.

“I’m from Ohio, this is my home state,” Miller told the Dispatch. “This is where I started and this is where I’m going to finish it.”

So now that we know that, where does Miller stand in college football's most talked-about position battle?

With two months to go until the start of the season, it's tough to tell. But it's getting easier to imagine a world where Miller is once again Ohio State's No. 1 quarterback.

Miller's health—he's still admittedly not 100 percent recovered—will play a large role in determining whether he winds up on the field this fall, but assuming he gets back to full strength from a throwing standpoint, the native of Huber Heights, Ohio, could very well wind up back in the Buckeyes starting lineup.

While both Barrett and Jones proved to be better distributors in their respective turns running Urban Meyer's spread offense, Miller provides an ability with his legs that neither of the other two signal-callers possess. In three seasons as Ohio State's starter, Miller rushed for 3,054 yards and 32 touchdowns, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2012 and 2013.

That skill set proved to be nearly perfect for the Buckeyes in Meyer's first two seasons in Columbus, as the OSU roster was still short on the playmakers that the three-time national champion head coach so desperately covets. At times, Miller was essentially a one-man show, his number of carries nearing 30 on a weekly basis.

"It was Braxton left, Braxton right," Meyer said of his most reliable offensive option in 2012.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Miller seemingly hasn't lost a step through his recovery—“As it stands right now, I know I am the best athlete in college football," he told the Dispatch—and his Instagram page confirms the typical offseason cliche that he's in the best shape of his life. If anything, it's hard to imagine a healthy Miller staying off the field with his ability with the ball in his hands, whether he's playing quarterback or a different position.

But as Miller stated, it's his preference to play quarterback, and to that end, he'll have to improve as a passer to do so. Miller's 63.5 percent completion rate in 2013 was enough for him to get by, as he relied more heavily on his legs. But it still ranked behind Barrett's 64.6 percent clip in his 12 starts in 2014, and though Jones' 61.3 completion percentage in his three starts was lower than Miller's, he averaged more yards per passing attempt (9.9) than Miller did in 2013 (8.2).

With Meyer having previously stated he'll rely on stats rather than a feeling when it comes to making his decision, those numbers would seemingly bode better for Jones—and especially Barrett—than they would for Miller.

It is worth noting, however, that both Jones and Barrett had the benefit of playing with a more developed roster than Miller ever did in his two seasons as a starter under Meyer. Ohio State's leader in receptions, Mike Thomas, redshirted in 2013, as did all-purpose weapon Jalin Marshall. And even players such as Dontre Wilson and Ezekiel Elliott were seemingly more dangerous a season ago than they were playing alongside Miller in 2013.

Whether that was a result of the quarterback(s) they were playing with or their own personal development remains unclear, but this summer should give us an opportunity to find out.

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

And ultimately, that's what will determine whether Miller regains his starting status as Meyer tries to figure out whether his offense took a leap thanks to Barrett's and Jones' abilities as distributors or if it was because of the players around them. If Meyer determines the latter, then Miller's ability with his legs would be a welcome addition and could perhaps create one of the most dangerous offenses in college football history.

But if it's the former, then Meyer will be forced to turn to either Barrett—the reigning National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year—or Jones—the strong-armed national champion and projected first-round pick. Given his dual-threat nature, it still wouldn't be a surprise to see Meyer sprinkle Miller in as a situational signal-caller or for Miller to try his hand at playing a new position.

But regardless of the outcome, the initial reaction to Thursday's news stands, as a remarkable summer in Columbus is just getting started.

Ben Axelrod is Bleacher Report's Big Ten lead writer. You can follow him on Twitter @BenAxelrod. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings courtesy of 247Sports.