Cardale Jones Decision To Stay With Ohio State A Mistake? Nation Champion QB Passes On 2015 NFL Draft To Stay In School

Cardale Jones is returning to Ohio State University and will not enter the 2015 NFL draft, the College Football National Championship winning quarterback announced today. The QB — who led the Buckeyes to a famous 42-20 win over Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks in the inaugural College Football National Championship game on Monday — said he would've gone in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft, meaning he's is giving up approximately $2 million to play another year in college... with no guarantee that he'll play, let alone start with both Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett returning from injury for next season.  

Jones told Sports Illustrated that he wanted to "work on my craft" and graduate from college, the first person from his family to do so. 

Cardale Jones tells @SIPeteThamel why he's staying at Ohio State https://t.co/OXGdg1k6kD pic.twitter.com/vVIx1WZlwf

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 15, 2015

Jones revealed his reasons for staying in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel, saying "The NFL has always been my goal and dream."

"It's literally right there in front of me," said the QB, "but I also have a goal to graduate. I dedicated to myself and teammates and coaching staff to be the best student-athlete I can be and to graduate. I want to make sure I meet all my goals."

Thamel added that Jones said "he had a chance to be picked in the second or third round of the 2015 draft," but instead will be headed back to Ohio State's Columbus campus to "work on my craft."

Graduation is an obvious point of pride for the young quarterback, as he told Thamel "It definitely means a lot to me."

"Just because being the first person to graduate, it will open up the floodgates for younger relatives to see that as possible."

Ohio State will not have a shortage of options at QB next season with Cardale Jones returning: pic.twitter.com/GZ8P7KfcQo

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 15, 2015

As for the tussle for the starting QB job in Columbus, Jones told Thamel that "it's simple, the best guy is going to play. Whoever works the hardest and gains the trust will lead the team. They're going to play whoever they feel gives the team the best chance to win."

Cardale Jones's draft stock will skyrocket next year as he impresses NFL scouts with his clipboard holding skills while JT Barrett plays.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 15, 2015

Still, it'll take a bold coach to bench his national champion — who, as SI say went 3-0 in his three starts, threw for 860 yards and seven touchdowns with only two interceptions — regardless of whether he's a third stringer.

As NFL.com's Chase Goodbread reports, Jones said that his coach Urban Meyer "didn't make me any promises. He told me what I had to do, what I had to improve on, and that's it," Jones said.  

As ESPN report, Jones said at his Thursday press conference to announce his return to OHU "In my opinion, I think I can get a lot better." 

Safe to say it's been a whirlwind few weeks for Cardale Jones... pic.twitter.com/4aqWFF4DJA

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 15, 2015

Either way, Jones' return is great news for Ohio State and colleges in general... y'know, the entities that profit to the tune of billions while not paying the athletes who actually play the game.

It also bucks the trend of players leaving early which, says Brett Perrotta of ESPN, is due to the guaranteed money in the NFL's new Collective Bargain Agreement. Says Perrotta, college "players have an increased incentive to 'start the clock' on their NFL careers so they can reach a second, more lucrative contract earlier."

"The financial reward," he adds, "for being a high pick is lower, and thus the value of just being on an NFL roster in any capacity is higher."

As ESPN's report-bot Darren Rovell says, Jones is "giving up about $2 million" in returning to school.

In returning to school, Cardale Jones is giving up about $2 million. $250K in autograph $, $1.75M in guaranteed $ (late 2nd round)

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 15, 2015

According to Rovell, Jones is also apparently planning beyond the NFL, saying that after football he plans on becoming a financial planner. Best of luck to him. 

Cardale Jones says after football he wants to be a financial planner.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 15, 2015