Ohio State is a front-runner to bring in Justin Fields, the five-star quarterback who intends to transfer from Georgia following his freshman season.
The Toledo Blade, citing multiple sources, reported Fields also is considering Florida State and Oklahoma.
Fields has spoken with the Georgia coaching staff about his intention to explore a transfer, DawgNation has confirmed. News of Field's transfer from first reported by USA TODAY. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told DawgNation that Fields talked to Georgia on Monday about the NCAA process and potentially leaving coach Kirby Smart's program. The person said Fields has grown frustrated with his inability to beat out incumbent Jake Fromm.
According to the Toledo Blade, Ohio State coach Ryan Day is a primary reason for Fields’ interest in the Buckeyes. Fields intends to petition the NCAA for immediate eligibility, according to several reports. Fields is expected to retain Tom Mars, the attorney who helped Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson gain immediate eligibility. He has also helped other players.
“I’ve helped more than a dozen student-athletes from different sports in the past year, but I don’t talk about it publicly unless there’s a good reason to do so,” Mars told The Toledo Blade when asked if he was involved in the Fields case.
Under the NCAA’s new notification-of-transfer rule, Fields is allowed to speak to coaches from other schools. An immediate transfer would enable Fields to go through spring drills and improve his chances of starting for another team in 2019 provided the NCAA grants him a waiver for immediate eligibility.
Day will become Ohio State’s head coach Jan. 2.
Fields served as the backup to Fromm this season. The freshman quarterback was the No. 2 player in the country coming out of high school in the 2018 class. Fields is from Kennesaw, and played at Harrison High School.
