Despite being out for the remainder of the season with a fractured ankle, redshirt-freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was named the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year on Tuesday.
Barrett picked up the award a day after he was named first team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and the media, and received the conference’s Quarterback of the Year award.
The Wichita Falls, Texas, native started all 12 games during the regular season for OSU and set school records for total touchdowns in a season, passing touchdowns in a season and total yards in a season. He also broke the Big Ten record for total touchdowns, compiling 34 touchdown passes and 11 scores on the ground.
Barrett added two single-game program records during the Buckeyes’ win over Minnesota when he had a quarterback record 86-yard touchdown run and a quarterback single-game high 189 rushing yards.
The Rider High School product totaled 2,834 passing yards and threw 10 interceptions this season. He added 938 rushing yards to go with his 45 total touchdowns.
Barrett also picked up weekly awards regularly throughout the season as he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week a record seven times and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week three times.
In addition to being named the the conference’s quarterback of the season, Barrett was also named the Big Ten’s Hardest Working Player of the Year on Monday.
Barrett is the eight Buckeye to be named the Big Ten’s top freshman, and the third OSU quarterback to garner the honor in the past seven years. Senior quarterback Braxton Miller — who Barrett replaced after Miller was lost for the season when he tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder during fall camp — won the award in 2011.
With Barrett injured, OSU is expected to turn to redshirt-sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones for the remainder of the season.
The Buckeyes are scheduled to play Wisconsin on Saturday in the Big Ten Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 8:17 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
