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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.T. Barrett was beaten out by Cardale Jones last year in one of the most intriguing training-camp quarterback races in the nation. Now, he is Ohio States undisputed starter and leader of a team thats reloading after the departure of 16 starters.Barretts value to the team cant be overstated. The Buckeyes fortunes likely will ride on the 21-year-old Texans ability to recapture some of the magic from the 2014 national championship season.With a freshman likely starting at tailback -- no more Ezekiel Elliott to carry the offensive load -- and a stable of unproven wide receivers, the Buckeyes will look to Barrett for guidance and big plays. Hes a junior, but on this team hes one of the veterans. Hes been chosen a captain for the second straight season.Last year we had a lot more older guys, of course, and this year Im trying to help the younger guys get into our standard of how we play here at Ohio State, Barrett said, and make sure that they understand we dont have rebuilding years. The expectations are not going to change because you all dont have experience.As a freshman, Barrett stepped up when Braxton Miller reinjured his shoulder in training camp. He led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record before breaking his leg in the last regular season game against Michigan. Jones returned and Ohio State won its next three games and the national title.Last season was unsteady for Barrett. He and Jones battled for the starting job in training camp. Jones won, only to have Barrett replace him in the eighth game. Just after regaining the starting job, Barrett was suspended for a game after an arrest for driving under the influence.The Buckeyes stumbled against Michigan State for their only loss but rebounded with wins at Michigan and in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame to finish 12-1 and ranked No. 4 in the nation. Barrett completed 19 of 31 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns and 96 yards rushing in the 44-28 win over the Fighting Irish.He did not have a great training camp last year, for whatever reason, coach Urban Meyer said. There was a lot of distraction with Cardale and with whos going to play quarterback, and he was still overcoming a pretty serious injury that took a long time to heal, so he didnt have the spring reps that he needed. He did this year, and I anticipate hell be as good a quarterback as weve had, because its his show -- he knows it and hes prepared.Barrett is 15-2 as Ohio States starter, with a completion percentage of 64.2. Hes averaged more than 220 yards per game passing and 82 yards rushing in his 17 starts and has accounted for 58 touchdowns.Whether you had a veteran team or a young team, to have a J.T. Barrett, one of the best quarterbacks in the country, somebody you trust, you respect and is a great leader -- thats where it all starts, said Ed Warinner, Ohio States co-offensive coordinator. When youve got Pat Elflein at center and J.T. Barrett, thats a great starting point.Without Elliott, a first-round NFL draft pick, the Buckeyes are going to need a sharp passing game and a go-to receiver who can get open and catch the deep ball. The two projected starters at the wide receiver spots -- Noah Brown and Corey Smith -- got some playing time in 2014 but both are returning from leg injuries that sidelined them last season. H-backs Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson -- both also coming off injuries -- have shown they can be dependable targets, but the rest of the guys are unproven.Talent, speed and athleticism will not be an issue, Meyer said. Its how they perform. Thats where J.T. is going to be so critical, because youre going to see a lot of wide eyes. A lot of those guys have not played.Barretts backup -- and 2014 taught Ohio State coaches how important backups are -- appears to be redshirt freshman Joe Burrow, although freshman Dwayne Haskins, a four-star prospect that Meyer has raved about, could push him.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy---For some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacyWholesale Jerseys China . JOHNS, N. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. https://www.wholesalejerseysaaa.com/ . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Cheap Jerseys From China . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night. Cheap Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami.ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals filled the biggest void in their bullpen Monday with Brett Cecil, the only left-handed reliever that piqued their interest on the free-agent market.Cecil was introduced at Busch Stadium after finalizing a $30.5 million, four-year contract. He is expected to provide help in high-leverage situations along with Kevin Siegriest and ahead of closer Seung Hwan Oh, though general manager John Mozeliak said all three are capable of finishing games.Brett was the one person we thought if we were going to make a splash in the bullpen, he was the one we identified, Mozeliak said. There was a lot of demand for him and it was moving.The four-year deal for the 30-year-old Cecil gained attention, but Mozeliak said he was comfortable with the length of the contract because of the interest he was generating.Our offseason plan has been to take steps to try to improve this club and certainly today we feel like we have, Mozeliak said. I think its a way we envision keeping a fresh bullpen.Shoring up the bullpen became one of the Cardinals biggest needs following injuries to Zach Duke and Tyler Lyons. Duke is expected to miss all of next season after Tommy John surgery, while Lyons has had offseason knee surgery that leaves him questionable for the start of the regular season.Cecil had a 3.93 ERA in 36 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last season. He was slowed by a torn lat muscle but dominated down the stretch, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.The lat issue, it was kind of an accumulating thing, Cecil said. We tried to rest, tried to let it heal. It wasnt working. I was sidelined for six weeks.ddddddddddddI almost had to start spring training over again in the middle of the season. It took me a little bit to get going, and there in August and toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, I was beginning to feel like my old self again.Cecil, who had a 2.90 ERA in four years as a full-time reliever in Toronto, was testing free agency for the first time. He said that he left most of the negotiations up to his agent, but he was happy that a deal got done relatively early in the process.I honestly didnt know when it was going to happen, he said. I do like to get these types of things over and done with as quickly as possible. That way I can get my focus more toward the offseason, to come to spring training ready to go.Under the deal negotiated by agents Sam and Seth Levinson, Cecil gets a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deals approval by Major League Baseball, and salaries of $7.5 million in each of the next three seasons and $7 million in 2020. He also receives a full no-trade provision and award bonuses.Cecil said he doesnt know anybody on the current roster, which is still in need of an outfielder, but that the longtime American League pitcher is ready to take on the National League.Absolutely. This team is rich with baseball history, he said. They have a rich winning tradition. They always have good teams -- good, winning teams. And like I said, for my family and me, this is where we wanted to come. It was the best fit for us. ' ' '