Parker Lewis is now eligible to play for Ohio State.
Lewis has been cleared to play by the NCAA, Eleven Warriors has confirmed, making him immediately eligible to play as soon as this week after he missed the first four games of the season due to an eligibility issue following his transfer from USC.
The junior kicker, who has three remaining years of eligibility, gives Ohio State another option at kicker along with Noah Ruggles and Jayden Fielding. While it would come as a surprise if Ruggles does not continue kicking field goals and extra points, Lewis gives the Buckeyes another option on kickoffs, which Fielding has handled for the first four games.
Fielding, a walk-on true freshman, has performed well for the most part as Ohio State’s kickoff specialist, notching 17 touchbacks on 33 kickoffs while the Buckeyes have allowed only nine returns for 192 yards. He has had two kickoffs out of bounds, including one in the most recent game against Wisconsin. Fielding would become ineligible to redshirt as a freshman if he kicks in any more games this season.
Lewis, who has been practicing with the team since mid-August even though he was ineligible to play for the first four games, made 26 of 35 field goal attempts and 46 of 47 extra point attempts and had 49 touchbacks on 72 kickoffs in two seasons at USC.
Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch was the first to report on Lewis becoming eligible.
