Ohio State QB Barrett pleads guilty to driving while impaired

Update: J.T. Barrett has received a $400 fine, and his license has been suspended for 180 days.

“I just wanted to apologize to my family for this embarrassment and also to the Ohio State football program and also Buckeye Nation”.

The 20-year-old Barrett was cited for the misdemeanor at a Columbus police checkpoint October 31, during the Buckeyes’ off week. In addition to being suspended for last week’s Minnesota game, Barrett will forfeit his summer financial aid, coach Urban Meyer said. With Ohio State up 21-0, it seemed the Buckeyes would be alright without the help of J.T. Barrett.

Barrett is more like former quarterback-turned hybrid back Braxton Miller in the way he gets around the edge and breaks long runs.

Barrett’s attorney, Phil Templeton, said his client accepted responsibility for his actions, but had no intention of leaving his home the night of his citation. He agreed to a breathalyzer test and his blood-alcohol concentration registered at 0.099 – above the legal limit of 0.08 for drivers of legal drinking age. “He just hit his head and said it felt like he couldn’t move at that time so he just laid there and made sure everything was all right”.

“(Barrett) will be the starter unless he does not have a good week of practice”, Meyer.

Monday, Meyer announced Barrett will start this weekend against IL. In OH, the limit is 0.02 for people younger than 21. He wouldn’t identify the friend.

“He had a little too much to drink”, Templeton said of Barrett. He is going to be a nightmare for the IL defense come Saturday. QB Cardale Jones filled in for last week’s win against Minnesota.

The Gophers went three-and-out after the interception return, and Ohio State scored again on a drive that included a 44-yard pass by Jones and a 15-yard touchdown run by junior running back Ezekiel Elliott. And if all goes well there, Ohio State will book a trip to the Big Ten title game, where there’s a good chance an unbeaten Iowa team will be waiting. Barrett is expected to return as starting quarterback on Saturday when the Buckeyes play at IL.

“I don’t want to say hold my breath, but I just know it’s a tough skill and he’s an aggressive guy that’s one of the best punt returners in the country”, Meyer said.