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Ohio State QB Justin Fields says he hasn’t thought about skipping college football season
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If Justin Fields announced that he wanted pursue a career in the NFL and skip the 2020 college football season, not many would blame him. The Ohio State quarterback is essentially a lock to be one of the top five selections in the 2021 NFL Draft, regardless of whether he plays or not.
Much to the comfort of Buckeye fans, though, the Heisman-caliber quarterback says he hasn’t really given that idea much thought.
On Tuesday, Fields and other Ohio State team captains met with the media to discuss the upcoming season and challenges that have been presented regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. While some players in the sport have opted to forgo the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns, Fields says he really hasn’t given it much thought.
“Getting to the money as fast as I can isn’t really a priority,” Fields said, according to Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch. “I can see where those guys are coming from, but I haven’t really thought of it yet.”
Early Tuesday morning, Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman announced that he would skip the 2020 season and begin training for an NFL career. Bateman was not just one of the top receivers in the B1G, but in the country, totaling 1,219 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2019 campaign.
Illinois running back Ra’Von Bonner and offensive lineman Jake Cerny are two other B1G players who have also opted out.
Fields was one of the top quarterbacks in college football last season, and will be one of the best again this year. His top competition is Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, as both are neck-and-neck with the Heisman Trophy betting odds entering the season.
While Fields’ early comments are promising, it doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind somewhere down the road. For now, though, it looks like Ohio State’s quarterback plans to stick around for at least this season.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB