Justin Fields' Ohio State career is officially over.
In a move that comes as no surprise, Fields announced Monday that he is entering the 2021 NFL draft, ending his Ohio State career after two seasons.
Next Chapter. pic.twitter.com/Q4iWJop4WI
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) January 18, 2021
The two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Quarterback of the Year is expected to be one of the first players chosen in the first round of the draft, which is scheduled for April 29.
Fields leaves Ohio State as one of the most accomplished players in school history, even though he was at OSU for just two years and his second season was shortened. A Heisman Trophy finalist in 2019 who finished in seventh in Heisman voting in 2020, Fields ranks among the most prolific passers in Ohio State history as well as one of its most dynamic dual-threats.
He never lost a regular-season game at Ohio State, led the Buckeyes to back-to-back Big Ten titles and avenged his only loss in 2019 with an iconic performance in this year's College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, where he threw for 385 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 49-28 victory over Clemson.
In 22 total career games, Fields completed 396 of 579 passing attempts for 5,373 yards and 63 touchdowns with only nine interceptions while also running for 867 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2019, Fields became the first quarterback in Big Ten history with 40 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season; in 2020, he broke Ohio State's single-season record with a 70.2 completion percentage.
Fields is expected to be the second Ohio State quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL draft in three years, following Dwayne Haskins, who was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in 2019. He'll almost certainly be the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback since Art Schlichter was the No. 4 overall pick in 1982.
“Growing up, my dream was to one day play the game that I love at the highest level,” Fields said in his announcement. “Now thanks to God's grace and mercy, along with the help of you all, I am in a position to turn that dream into reality.”
With Fields' departure, the quarterback depth chart is now wide open for the 2021 season, with redshirt freshmen C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller and true freshman Kyle McCord – none of whom have thrown a pass in a collegiate game – set to compete for the starting job.
