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FOX analyst Joel Klatt dismisses criticism of Justin Fields’ work ethic: ‘Draft him!’

Spenser Davis

By Spenser Davis

Published:

College football reporters and insiders are sticking with Justin Fields.

On Friday afternoon, FOX lead analyst Joel Klatt became the latest person in college football media to defend Fields from recent criticism.

Here’s what Klatt had to say in reference to Dan Orlovsky’s report about Fields’ work ethic.

“Gus, Jenny, and I called 10 [Ohio State] games over the past two seasons,” Klatt said. “I never once heard anyone mention [Fields] as a marginal worker. In fact, I heard the exact opposite. He fought to get on the field and he fought to stay on the field…DRAFT HIM!”

Klatt is referencing Fields’ extensive effort to ensure a college football season would be played despite the pandemic. Fields also pushed to get the Big Ten to reverse its decision about canceling the fall campaign.

Klatt, Jenny Taft, Kirk Herbstreit and Ryan Day have now each come out in defense of Fields, whose draft stock is starting to slip.

Fields dropped out of the top 10 in Todd McShay’s most recent NFL mock draft. In addition to Trevor Lawrence in Zach Wilson, Fields is now expected to be picked after Mac Jones and possibly even North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

The NFL draft is April 29-May 1.

Spenser Davis

Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.