Cardale Jones press conference today

[Mr. Laz]

Cardale Jones to make NFL draft announcement at 3 p.m.

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones appears headed toward the NFL draft after just three college starts.

Jones has confirmed on Twitter that he will make a “life changing decision at 3 p.m.“

Although Jones hasn’t said what he will be announcing, players rarely schedule press conferences to announce that they’re staying in school. And on the rare occasions when players do make such announcements, the press conference usually takes place in conjunction with the school’s athletics department. But according to multiple reports, Jones’s announcement will be at the Ginn Academy, where Jones attended high school.

So it now appears nearly certain that Jones will turn pro, after one of the most unusual college careers in the history of the sport: Jones only started three games, and in those three games he led his team to victory in the Big Ten Championship Game and then to the national championship with two wins in the first-ever college football playoff.

Is Jones ready to start in the NFL? Not yet. But he has all the tools that NFL teams look for in a quarterback, and less experienced quarterbacks than Jones have been drafted before, including Matt Cassel and Jay Schroeder. Jones is making a decision few expected as recently as a few days ago, but he’s probably making the right decision.

[Jim Lahey]

I think he'd be a great backup behind a guy like Russell Wilson.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

He still might. But he's competing against two potential Heisman candidates. And he's a lot more raw than those guys. jt barrett in particular has a chance to be something really special.

Sounds like a promising reason to drop out of college. Hope he picks up a lottery ticket on the way to the presser.

Just not seeing the hype let alone the logic.

[Jimmya]

Bring him in for a look!

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

He must have been told he projects as a 1st round pick.

Todd and Kiper both said he would be a 2nd to early 3rd rounder. I would only take him if I was able to let him sit and learn for a couple years. I think it is his best decision right now. He would not be the starter next year. Braxton Miller is back and JT Barrett is back. He may be able to transplant Miller if Miller's shoulder doesn't recover, but Barrett broke his ankle, he will be ready to roll. Cardale just had a young child, and he should take the money and run, he doesn't owe Ohio State anything else, and Urban hinted at that.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Tuckdaddy

What a dumbass. Ignorant non-educated dumbass. 3 starts? He will never be anything but a nobody in the NFL and broke.

He's a dumbass for going to the NFL when his draft stock will never be higher? Like other's have said, he's 22 years old. Somebody will take a flier on him, and he can learn as he goes AND be paid. This notion that you can't get better in the NFL is ludacris.

He might not even ever be able to play again with Braxton Miller & TJ Barrett. What happens if he plays 0 snaps next year? Which is actually pretty likely. Then his draft stock goes way way down. It's a great decision IMO

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Otter

Sounds like a promising reason to drop out of college. Hope he picks up a lottery ticket on the way to the presser.

Just not seeing the hype let alone the logic.

I'm not saying there's hype. I think he can be an intriguing later round pick. But he will and should he picked up as a project. As someone mentioned before, I can't blame him for doing it given his options and don't think skipping his senior year should be viewed as a negative.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Otter

Then why isn't he starting at OSU?

Because OSU had two QB's who both were legitimate Heisman Candidates before they got injured.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Otter

Sounds like a promising reason to drop out of college. Hope he picks up a lottery ticket on the way to the presser.

Just not seeing the hype let alone the logic.

He'll be 23 this year, and he has a kid. What is so difficult to understand?

[Pablo]

Play it safe and go back to school! That's what I would do! /old dudes that never had someone tell them they might get a NFL contract if they left school.

Is it really that difficult to see the dilemma here? He was a third string QB; he may have to battle it out to become the starter next year. He may win the job and expose himself to be nothing special and lose out on draft slotting and a ton of money.

He could go back to school and lead OSU back to another 'Ship and get his degree. Maybe he will. But to act like he's some sort of mental midget to consider bolting for the league when his stock is the highest it's ever been is moronic.

[Otter]

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

He'll be 23 this year, and he has a kid. What is so difficult to understand?

Wow! So you're saying dropping out of college to be a late round draft pick is the smart move at this point in life? No chance of that going wrong. I mean it's pretty much a sure bet. His kid ages in dog years I hope.

[Chiefnj2]

IMHO, he is just a media hype player. Everybody knows his name because of the college playoffs so the Kiper's and McShays will talk about him.

But, at the end of the day with only 3 starts there is no way he goes early in the draft. His stock will slide. That said, he has no choice but to declare. Without those two injuries he never gets drafted. Might as well go for it and make some money. After all, he didn't go to no school to play school.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Otter

Wow! So you're saying dropping out of college to be a late round draft pick is the smart move at this point in life? No chance of that going wrong. I mean it's pretty much a sure bet. His kid ages in dog years I hope.

Go back to school and battle and lose the starting QB spot. Better yet, maybe get injured and fade into nothingness and cost yourself a multi-year contract and potentially millions of dollars to get that degree!

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Otter

Wow! So you're saying dropping out of college to be a late round draft pick is the smart move at this point in life? No chance of that going wrong. I mean it's pretty much a sure bet. His kid ages in dog years I hope.

You are an idiot, or you are just to lazy to research anything. Ohio State will honor their scholarship as they did with both Greg Oden and Maurice Clarett and the countless other athletes who left early to return. JB Shugarts finally played his last NFL snap and he is back at OSU. So yeah, leaving to potentially make a couple million even if he sucks over the course of the next 5years, leaving the NFL at 28 and being able to do whatever he wants would be worth it. Shoot even if he only is in the league 3 years he will make a million or so.

[WhawhaWhat]

He can't go back to Ohio State and if he transfers then he has to wait a year to play for free again. Going pro is the only choice he has.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

IMHO, he is just a media hype player. Everybody knows his name because of the college playoffs so the Kiper's and McShays will talk about him.

But, at the end of the day with only 3 starts there is no way he goes early in the draft. His stock will slide. That said, he has no choice but to declare. Without those two injuries he never gets drafted. Might as well go for it and make some money. After all, he didn't go to no school to play school.

Yeah, he may just be all hype. But perception is reality. If he shows well at the combine and puts up great numbers, which I expect he will, he's going to get pushed up on somebody's board. Plenty of turd college QB's play four or five year and don't play three games that even come close to the run he put together. And they still get taken in the second, third and fourth rounds.