So, Cardale Jones is returning to school for another year and not going pro? 

Now what are you going to do, Ohio State with your three quarterbacks? 

There was a potential doomsday scenario in place early Wednesday morning with Braxton Miller potentially transferring, Cardale Jones turning pro, and J.T. Barrett’s broken leg not fully healed this offseason, but now that has all changed. 

Jones is coming back for another year, Barrett is reportedly healing okay, and Miller transferring rumors are just that, at least for now. 

Boo-hoo, the best team in college football has three Heisman-caliber quarterbacks and it has to figure out what to do with them all. There won’t be a rotation, and there won’t be anything definitive, most likely, until the fall when Miller and Barrett are 100% – assuming Miller is still around – and unless Jones goes lights out in spring ball and there’s just no other option. 

So how should Urban Meyer handle this? How can he make all three quarterbacks happy considering they’re all going to want to play and they’re all going to want to see time? Here’s my three-step program to tell the best coach in college football what to do – since he’s obviously in need of advice here. 

Step One: Be honest with Braxton

It should be an easy sales job for Meyer. There are 32 starting quarterback jobs in the NFL, and only a few come open each year. There at least 100 starting wide receiver jobs, several more fourth-receiver gigs, and there’s always room for more.

Julian Edelman, Antwaan Randle-El, Josh Cribbs, Denard Robinson – it’s possible to make a nice living doing something other than hang out under center. 

Braxton Miller is a late-round quarterback draft prospect, and at best he might be a fourth-round flier by someone who wants to take a gamble. However, the 6-2, 215-pounder could be a whale of a wide receiver with the athleticism, quarterback-smarts, and open-field running ability to become the type of guy who hangs around The League for a decade. 

If you’re Meyer, you tell Miller that if he wants to transfer to a place like Oregon, Florida State or Duke, good luck, here’s a peanut butter sandwich and a bro hug for all he’s done. What’s best for his future, though, would be to spend the year developing as a pro-level receiver and yet another weapon for the already high-octane offense. Obviously, it always helps to get as many star players on the field at once.

Of course, if he’s ever needed to switch back to quarterback in case of an emergency, he certainly can, but move him to wideout where he’ll catch 58 passes for 785 yards and eight touchdowns – to go along with Braxton packages that have him running 50 times for 400 yards and five scores – and the NFL scouts will eat it up. 

The other option might be that Miller really could develop into more of a pro-style passer. He might not have a 12 Gauge arm, but with another year of seasoning, maybe he turns into a playmaker worthy of a top 100 pick, and if that’s his dream, and if that’s his goal do make it happen at Ohio State … 

Step Two: The job goes to the best player

Not only is this another easy sales job, but it’s the right way to handle the team. There shouldn’t be any entitlement and there shouldn’t be any preconceived notions. Whenever all three quarterbacks are ready to roll – or even if it’s just two who can get in the practice time – the starting quarterback job goes to the one who wins it in the offseason. 

You already know all three options can play at the highest of levels, and you already know you can win with any of them, so there’s no reason to make any definitive statements until you have to. Give everyone an equal opportunity, and then make a call – that’s what the Ohio State coaching staff gets the big bucks to do. 

It’s also a good precedent to set for recruits and veterans alike. Come to Ohio State, and every year you’ll get a chance to compete for a starting job. If you’re the best player for the position, whether you’re an 18-year-old true freshman or a 24-year-old fifth-year senior, the gig is yours. It’s fair, everyone will understand, and everyone will know the lay of the land. 

Step Three: If Steps One and/or Two fail, then Cardale Jones is your guy, but …

You develop a two-quarterback system that drives defensive coordinators up the wall. Braxton gets playing time to utilize his speed and running ability, but it’s Cardale’s ship to fly for a balanced offense that can do far more down the field with the passing game than it can with No. 8 or No. 16 under center. Since Miller and Barrett are roughly the same type of player, you load up with a pro-style attack that stretches things out, keeps the safeties deep, and opens up holes that much more for Ezekiel Elliott and the power running game. 

As good as Miller and Barrett are, Jones might be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft if he has a steady and above-average season. You don’t keep a possible first round NFL quarterback on the bench. 

It might not be fair to J.T. Barrett, but even though he wants to be back and participating in spring football, if there are three fantastic quarterback options and one or two have to be left out, 2014’s breakthrough star still has plenty of time to become 2016’s main man. Thank him for the sacrifice and tell him that in return, he’s the unquestioned No. 1 guy for the 2016 season and beyond. Let him get a full year to let his leg heal so that he’s better than new for when he’s a junior with two more years to win Heismans, national championships, and become a true Buckeye legend. 

And then, if you’re Urban Meyer, Step Four is to go recruit more superstar college quarterback prospects to do it all again.