Jan 15, 2015 02:09 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Cardale Jones may not be "ready" for the NFL, but there are many factors in play that may drive him to choose to turn pro sooner rather than later.

On one hand, Jones has three career starts in college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and his numbers in those games were not spectacular. But those three games were wins in the Big Ten title game, the Sugar Bowl semifinal and the National Championship.

Jones seemingly announced his decision regarding staying at Ohio State rather than declaring for the NFL Draft during his Tuesday morning press conference, ESPN reported. At the time, he was not even 24 hours removed from winning the inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) title game. But on the last day to declare for the draft, Jones indicated his mind was not made up.

He tweeted Thursday afternoon that he has a "life changing decision" coming at 4 p.m., most likely concerning his football future.

At Ohio State, Jones could well be coming back to a three-way quarterback competition, SB Nation reported. What's more, he is the player with the least amount of experience and success when compared to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. Of those three, Jones seems to resemble what a prototypical NFL prospect should be.

Whereas Miller and Barrett are dual-threat QBs a bit more skill carrying the ball, Jones has a cannon for an arm and stands six-foot-five in the pocket with an imposing 250-pound frame.

While Barrett told Sports Illustrated he expects all three QBs to return to Ohio State, Jones has never spoken with such certainty. In his presser, he avoided a definitive statement. Speaking with NFL.com, he said he had to "consider" the NFL.

Jones also saw the birth of his daughter in Nov., which he has said forced him to mature as a man and going to the NFL would be a way for him to provide for his family. Jones also told NFL.com he wants to earn his degree.

If he does declare, grading him would be a nightmare for NFL scouts. He has size, arm strength and athleticism, but everything else is a mystery. The uncertainty would likely cause him to fall to the middle rounds or later, but his NFL potential is undoubtedly huge.

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