When Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones convened a press conference at his old high school last week, it was widely assumed by pigskin pundits across the nation that the announcement he was planning to make was that he would forego the final years of his NCAA football eligibility and make the leap to the NFL.
But instead, Jones chose to stay with the Buckeyes for at least one more year and battle it out with Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett for the rights to the starting quarterback position.
Ohio State fans rejoiced at the decision, but now, days later, Jones' choice may be having a ripple effect that could hamper the long-term prospects of the program.
Torrance Gibson, a four-star, dual-threat quarterback from Plantation, Florida, had committed to Ohio State, but said recently that after Jones' decision and after meeting with Auburn officials, he wasn't so sure about that choice anymore.
"I sat in Coach Malzahn's office and he told me that I'm their guy," Gibson said, according to Rivals. "He said he wants me to come in and I would get a fair opportunity to play quarterback, and I believe him."
Jones has two seasons of eligibility left, Miller has one - though he's not yet committed to Ohio State for next season - and Barrett has three, Fox Sports reported.
While Gibson made no mention of the Buckeyes' quarterback depth, it's clear from his comments that his decision is being influenced by his perceived ability to crack the starting lineup from day one.
"I'm committed (to Ohio State), but I'm considering Auburn a lot," Gibson said. "I don't have a problem redshirting, but sitting two or three years, that's not what I want to do. I want to come in and get a fair opportunity to play quarterback."
Nothing is set in stone for Gibson either way, as he still has visits scheduled with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, LSU and again with the Auburn staff.
But with Jones seeming like the present and the uber-talented Barrett probably the future, Meyer's ability to recruit quarterbacks may be hindered for at least a season or two.
