Jul 24, 2015 12:36 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer's plan to get all three of his starting quarterback candidates on the field at once appears to be taking shape, starting with Braxton Miller.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel on Thursday, Miller said he is taking practice reps as a hybrid-back and punt returner. He indicated the position switch will not be permanent, that he could still play quarterback, but will allow his shoulder to regain strength while he contributes on the field.

"It's a long process to get back totally to throwing and throwing every day," Miller told Thamel. "This is the smarter thing for right now, God blessed me with a lot of talent and different opportunities. I'm going to have fun with that and still score a lot of touchdowns and help the team out and be dominant at that."

Miller may have foreshadowed this announcement when publicly declaring he was given a clean bill of health earlier this month, calling himself "the best athlete in college football." He did not call himself the "most athletic/ versatile quarterback" in college football, rather the "best athlete."

Still, neither he nor Meyer want anyone to believe Miller's quarterbacking days are over.

"I haven't made those decisions yet," Meyer told the Columbus Dispatch Friday. "It seems like it's a little bit jumping the gun. Braxton came to see me... He's been talking to me about it. We've been working at it. But I'm not ready to say exactly how we're going to use him yet."

Braxton's father Kevin echoed the sentiment, telling the Dispatch his son was just working out as an h-back/returner to be able to contribute to the Buckeyes' title defense as more than just a quarterback. Thamel also apparently did not think his article conveyed the correct point.

"When I talked to [Thamel], I was kind of misinterpreted," Kevin Miller told the Dispatch. "I didn't say it was set in stone. I said it all depended on the health of his shoulder."

Meyer's choice seems to be down to Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett. Read more here on how Meyer could use all three on the field at the same time.

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