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Justin Fields Exceeding High Expectations for Ohio State

Sophomore transfer has been better than anticipated for 6-0 Buckeyes
Bruce Hooley|
Justin Fields Exceeding High Expectations for Ohio State
Justin Fields Exceeding High Expectations for Ohio State

Justin Fields has fantastic numbers through half a season as Ohio State's starting quarterback.

So did Dwyane Haskins in his only season as the Buckeyes' QB.

And so did J.T. Barrett in the last of his four years running the offense, after an up-and-down junior year.

The constant is now-OSU head coach Ryan Day, who before taking over for Urban Meyer this fall was Barrett's quarterback coach and Haskins' position coach and offensive coordinator.

While Ohio State exited the Woody Hayes, three-yards-and-a-cloud of dust era long ago, it never threw the football with the consistent success that it has since Day arrived in Columbus.

  • Barrett had 35 touchdown passes, 3,053 passing yards and a 64.7 percent completion rate in 2017.
  • Haskins had 50 touchdown passes, 4,831 passing yards and a 70 percent completion rate in 2018.
  • Fields has 18 touchdown passes, 1,298 passing yards and a 69.5 percent completion rate so far this year.

If OSU plays 14 games -- 12 in the regular season, the Big Ten title game and a post-season game -- Fields would finish with 3,029 yards and 42 touchdown passes if he maintains his current pace.

But Fields has also rushed for 8 touchdowns in six games, including at least one in every game.

The first of those was a 51-yard sprint in the season-opener against Florida Atlantic on which Fields showed his speed.

The last was a 1-yard edge run in a 34-10 win Saturday against Michigan State on which Fields took a big shot and powered in anyway.

"I think he’s shown toughness," Day said of Fields. "He’s dropped his pads and taken care of himself. He’s taken a few shots. You can see how dynamic he is with his feet and how he changes the game."

That was expected, given OSU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson's description of Fields in the spring as "the fastest quarterback I've ever seen."

Where Fields has been a revelation is with this passing, showing NFL touch and arm strength on fades, deep balls and throws outside the hash.

Haskins had that same big arm, but Day believes he and Fields are more different than similar as passers.

""(Haskins) is kind of more of a pocket guy who's a little bit longer, leaner, 6-5, maybe a little bit quicker release," Day said. "The other guy is 6-3, thicker, stronger in the pocket. Guys can kind of bounce off of him in there.

"(Fields) is a little stronger in there, can stand in there a little more, can create and extend plays. He’s got a very strong arm, and that thing comes out with pace when it comes out.

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