COLUMBUS, Ohio — Not so long ago, the only reason a lot of people knew Cardale Jones was for a thoughtless comment on social media about not wanting to go to school.

Now the national-champion quarterback is also a shining example for educators preaching to kids to get a degree.

The big quarterback surprised a packed crowd Thursday, declaring at his old high school in Cleveland that he would stay at Ohio State rather than jump into the NFL draft.

“My decision was very simple,” he said. “I’m going to return next year for school.”

That sentence was met with audible gasps.

In his only college starts, he led Ohio State to wins in the Big Ten title game, the Sugar Bowl and the national championship.