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Ryan Day praises Justin Fields’ development, leadership at Ohio State
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Speaking with Joel Klatt, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day touched on several Buckeye-related topics ahead of Saturday’s season-opener in Columbus against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, including the continued development of junior quarterback Justin Fields.
College Football on FOX shared video of the conversation on Twitter.
“Having that losing taste in his mouth over the offseason really motivated him… I’m just really happy he’s got an opportunity to play here.”@ryandaytime discussed @justnfields' development and @OhioStateFB’s preparation ahead of the return of Big Ten football this Saturday ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/GaSQXniw2T
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2020
Considered one of the Heisman Trophy favorites, Fields is entering his second season at Ohio State after beginning his collegiate career with Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. Winning the starting job over Tate Martell, who transferred to the Miami Hurricanes, Fields led the Buckeyes to a 13-1 (9-0 B1G) record and a College Football Playoff berth in his first year on-campus.
Throwing for 3,272 yards and 41 touchdowns, compared to just three interceptions, plus adding another 484 yards and 10 scores on the ground, he earned B1G Offensive Player of the Year honors, first-team All-Conference recognition from the coaches and media, and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting.
Dating back to Jim Tressel’s tenure, Ohio State has produced several standout signal-callers in the past decade-and-a-half, including Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, and J.T. Barrett, but Fields might just be the best of the bunch.
Looking to live up to the high bar he set last fall, Fields and the Buckeyes’ clash with Nebraska will kick at 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Rydquist has been contributing to Saturday Down South and Saturday Tradition since 2019. He can be found on Twitter @TeddyRydquist.