LOS ANGELES – As Georgia freshman Justin Fields contemplates the possibility of transferring, with rumors suggesting that he could ultimately end up at Ohio State, he’s been talking with the man who knows better than anyone else about playing quarterback for Ohio State and soon-to-be head coach Ryan Day.
During his media availability for the Rose Bowl on Saturday, current Ohio State starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins said Fields has been in touch with him, and Haskins has done his best to provide helpful advice.
“He’s waiting on to see what I’m doing. So I don’t know what he’s going to do yet,” Haskins said. “But I try to be as positive and help as many people as I can. So Justin’s going through something right now, and he just wanted me to ask a couple questions and I answered for him, and that’s pretty it.”
Haskins, of course, is still deciding whether he will return to Ohio State for another season or declare for the 2019 NFL draft. If Fields is actually considering becoming a Buckeye, Haskins’ decision could be a huge factor in his decision, since Fields will likely look to transfer to a school where he would have a chance to start right away (though he will have to apply for a hardship waiver to avoid sitting out a year under NCAA rules).
Should Haskins decide to go pro, the door would be open for Fields – the No. 2 overall recruit in the class of 2018, per 247Sports’ composite rankings – to head to Ohio State and, if he gets a hardship waiver, compete to be the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback in 2019. Tate Martell and Matthew Baldwin are also potential starters for the Buckeyes next season, but with Chris Chugunov being the only other scholarship quarterback on Ohio State’s roster, the Buckeyes are expected to pursue a transfer quarterback if Haskins leaves.
Even before Fields started thinking about transferring from Georgia, he and Haskins were already friends. The two worked out together this summer, along with Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery, and have stayed in communication throughout the season. Fields’ most recent tweet, dated Nov. 19, was a reply to Haskins.
Appreciate it.. just trying to get like you
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) November 19, 2018
Avery has also been a vocal proponent of Day, saying he would send his own son to play for Day if he was a quarterback.
If I had a son who played Quarterback I would 100% want him to play for Ryan Day...
— Quincy Avery (@Quincy_Avery) December 4, 2018
Coach Day has coached QBs A at the NFL level. Demands his Quarterbacks develop working through progressions, but works with them so they are equipped to do so. Also isn't so dense he thinks he knows everything. Plus he's a good dude.
— Quincy Avery (@Quincy_Avery) December 21, 2018
Haskins doesn’t know what Fields will end up deciding to do, but he does think that any school would lucky to have him.
“He’s a freak of nature. Dude’s like 6-3, 230, rocked up. Like, a freak athlete,” Haskins said of Fields. “But he’s a really great person, too. Worked out with him and Deshaun over the summer, and you can just see how much he wants to learn, and how much he’s willing to commit himself to being great. And he’s a great kid.”
