Jan 13, 2015 12:25 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Cardale Jones' first collegiate football start was the Big Ten Championship Game, his second was the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal and his third was the National Championship.

Cardale Jones is 3-0 as a starting quarterback.

If he chooses to stay at Ohio State, he may be favorited to win the starting QB position, even if Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett stick around. If he chooses the NFL, then he makes for one of the most interesting quarterback prospects in recent memory.

In his three starts, per ESPN's stats and info, Jones has completed 46 passes in 75 attempts for 742 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. While unspectacular at first glance, those numbers came in highly competitive, massively watched games with very little live preparation.

At six-foot-five and 250 pounds, he leaves little to be desired physically. On top of that, he showed off a strong arm in those three games with accuracy downfield and an ability to leave the pocket and extend plays.

The kneejerk pro comparison would be Ben Roethlisberger, who also towers over the offensive line and has surprising athleticism for a QB that size. But the similarity between Jones and Roethlisberger that may have evaluators and scouts more interested is the ability to rise to the occasion.

Jones' stats may not be spectacular, and they are few, and he did not take a lot of snaps from under center, but he delivered the team's three biggest wins of the season.

The other part of Jones' NFL Draft stock is his maturity. While ultimately of little consequence, Jones was suspended one game for a tweet questioning why he needed to go to class and take tests if he is at Ohio State to play football.

He later said he was frustrated over a grade he received, because he expected himself to perform better after the effort he put in studying. But when his daughter was born in Nov. 2014, "maturity" had a new meaning.

In a profile published by ESPN, Jones and his coaches say that was when the young quarterback's "transformative change" became evident.

On the field, Jones' demeanor is placid and focused. Off the field, he comes off as a "clown" and a "goofball," as his teammate Ezekial Elliot put it in his postgame comments. Part of being an NFL quarterback is earning teammates' trust and belief that he will win the game if it comes down to him.

Cardale Jones seems to have that down pat at Ohio State.

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