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Ohio State notebook: Quarterback’s position change opened door for J.T. Barrett’s possible successor

COLUMBUS: Ohio State may have found its successor to quarterback J.T. Barrett, and his signing was born out of the biggest crisis in recruiting the class of 2016.

OSU coach Urban Meyer thought Tristen Wallace of DeSoto (Texas) High School might follow in Barrett’s footsteps. Rated the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN, Wallace committed to the Buckeyes in April. But after throwing for 2,188 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushing for 1,401 yards and 17 scores, Wallace decided he would be better off playing wide receiver in college.

In December, he flipped to Oregon.

“That was a very strenuous moment,” Meyer recalled Wednesday in discussing his 25-man class on national signing day.