Ohio State football quarterbacks J.T. Barrett, left, Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller look at the College Football Playoff national championship trophy during a celebration of the Buckeyes' national championship at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

As we inch closer to the upcoming Ohio State quarterback competition between Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, one party very close to the situation – Barrett’s father, Joe – offered an interesting take on the matter.

“Of course I would love to see my kid start, but for me it always goes back to who was first,” Joe Barrett told the Columbus Dispatch. “If Braxton hadn’t gotten hurt, I would still be waiting for my baby to get the chance to play. I was thankful J.T. got that chance … and we were all blessed that he was ready to compete, but like I have told everybody, I don’t want to see my kid take a position because of the misfortune of someone else.

“In other words, Braxton should get that position back, then everybody else should go try to take it from him.”

Miller was the reigning two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year before he went down last August with a shoulder injury that kept him out for the entire 2014 season. As a redshirt freshman, Barrett filled in admirably with 2,834 yards and 34 touchdowns through the air and 938 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, but broke his ankle in the season finale against Michigan.

Jones, the team’s third-stringer, came on in relief of Barrett and led the Buckeyes to a national title with wins over Wisconsin (Big Ten championship), Alabama (national semifinal) and Oregon in the College Football Playoff title game.

All three return for the 2015 season – but Jones was the only one to practice at full strength during the spring. Miller reportedly is back throwing with no limitations and Barrett, his father says, is “about 90 percent.”

“He might say he’s at 100, but as a parent I think he still has some more work to do,” Joe Barrett said. “But he said he is feeling well and ready to compete as usual.”

Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has not tipped his hand about who may have an edge heading into preseason camp. All three clearly have starting capabilities, but could the job fall in the hands of Miller, the fifth-year senior? As Joe Barrett said, he did nothing to lose the role – but both J.T. Barrett and Jones have shown their merit.

How it all will play out is anybody’s guess.

For more Ohio State news, visit BuckeyeGrove.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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