Stephen Collier suffers torn ACL, Joe Burrow likely to be Ohio State’s backup QB

Ryan Cooper
Wed, 04 May 2016 19:52:13 +0000
Football, Sports, Buckeyes, J.T. Barrett, Joe Burrow, ohio state, osu, Stephen Collier, Urban Meyer

Quterbacks Stephen Collier (13) and J.T. Barrett (16) get work in at the first day of fall 2015 camp on Aug. 10 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Credit: Giustino Bovenzi / Lantern reporter

All offseason, there has been no question that J.T. Barrett is Ohio State’s starting quarterback. The second-string spot, however, was a lot more in the air.

That race might now be over, as redshirt sophomore Stephen Collier’s season is most likely over after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. The news was first reported by Eleven Warriors.

Collier had been in a competition for Barrett’s backup with redshirt freshman Joe Burrow throughout the spring, with plans on the race continuing through the fall. Collier came in for Barrett in the second half of OSU’s spring game on April 16, completing four of 11 passes for 154 yards and an interception. Fifty-five of those yards came from a long connection down the sideline to redshirt sophomore receiver Parris Campbell.

With Collier’s knee injury, Burrow, who was 14-of-23 for 196 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game, will almost assuredly receive the second-string role. True freshman Dwayne Haskins Jr., who hasn’t yet arrived on campus, is likely the favorite to be the third-stringer.

According to an OSU spokesman, Collier underwent successful surgery Wednesday morning and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Buckeyes are set to get their season started on Sept. 3 with a game at Ohio Stadium against Bowling Green. Kickoff time is yet to be announced.