Cardale Jones, Ohio State Star Quarterback, Declares for the 2016 NFL Draft

Cardale Jones recently took to Twitter to let his intentions for the future be known. On Wednesday, the 23-year-old redshirt Junior for Ohio State told reporters that he would not be transferring upon the conclusion of the season. Instead, he'll be entering the 2016 NFL Draft.

Jones began the season last year, his redshirt sophomore campaign, as the third string quarterback. However, injuries to both Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett allowed Jones to become a starter. It worked out well. Ohio State won the National Championship and Jones became a household name. So much so that the NFL was knocking on his door, despite his lack of experience (Jones played just 3 games). However, Jones decided to stay in school.

Starting the 2015-16 campaign, Jones earned the starting role outright from J.T. Barrett. And while he would win every game he started, he lost the position after putting up mediocre numbers. Jones had the opportunity to graduate from Ohio State and transfer at the end of the year without having to sit out a year, but said that was never an option, per ESPN's Austin Ward:

Cardale Jones still heading to the NFL. Said he would rather sit at Ohio State next year than transfer as "24 year old college student."

— Austin Ward (@AWardESPN) December 30, 2015

If anything, Jones may regret the decision to not declare for the draft earlier. After leading the Buckeyes to a National Championship his stock was high -- higher than it is now. While he wasn't a lock for the first round (he very well may have gone there), he also wasn't being viewed outside of the top 10 for best available college quarterbacks. 

Even so, he will still have the opportunity to raise his fallen stock. After Ohio State finishes its year against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, Jones will partake in Ohio State's Pro Day, and almost surely have a chance to impress at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which begins February 23, that according to Bleacher Report.