Justin Fields officially transferring from Georgia to Ohio State

Justin Fields is officially transferring from Georgia to Ohio State.

Jeff Sentell/DawgNation

Posted 1 year ago

Justin Fields is officially gone. After DawgNation’s Mike Griffith reported this morning that Georgia quarterback Justin Fields was transferring from Georgia to Ohio State, Fields announced the news that he was in fact leaving via Twitter.

Jeremiah 29:11… pic.twitter.com/7Z3j90Q305

— Justin Fields (@justnfields) January 5, 2019

“My time at the University of Georgia has given me the opportunity to refine my skills under great coaches and to play with incredibly talented teammates who’ve become like brothers to me. I appreciate what Coach Smart and the UGA football coaching staff gave done to help me progress as a quarterback and for their patience and understanding while I thoughtfully considered my future as a student-athlete,” Fields said in a statement.

“I’ve decided to transfer to Ohio State University where I will continue to pursue my undergraduate degree and play football for the Buckeyes.”

Fields now officially becomes the sixth Georgia player to leave the program today. Riley Ridley, Mecole Hardman, Isaac Nauta and Elijah Holyfield all declared for the 2019 NFL Draft. Freshman tight end Luke Ford also announced that he would be transferring, as he will head to Illinois.

The news had been expected, as Fields name had been in the NCAA Transfer Portal since Dec. 18. He was the nation’s No. 2 quarterback in the 2018 class and the No. 2 overall prospect.

Fields entered the year with high expectations, but he was never able to find consistent playing time. He appeared in 12 of the Bulldogs 14 games this season, with Florida and Texas being the only two games were he did not play. Fields did not start a game for Georgia this season, as he backed up sophomore Jake Fromm. Fields completed 27-of his 39 for 328 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in his 12 appearances, and he also rushed 42 times for 266 yards and four touchdowns.

The high point for Fields this season came against UMass, when he threw for 121 yards, ran for 100 and scored three total touchdowns. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the effort, and he was also named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team. Fields did not start a game for Georgia this season.

With Fields heading to Ohio State, it appears that he will be in a competition with former 4-star quarterback Tate Martell, as Ohio State’s 2018 starter, Dwyane Haskins, appears headed to the NFL draft. Martell has already made some interesting comments with regards to Fields, even before it was officially reported that he would be heading to Ohio State.

This is the second consecutive season where Georgia has seen a 5-star quarterback that it signed transfer from the program. Jacob Eason, a 5-star from the 2016 recruiting cycle, transferred to Washington after Fromm won the starting job and led Georgia to a national title appearance in 2017. Eason did sit out the 2018 season, where as Fields intends to apply for a waiver to make him immediately eligible.

Many have speculated that Fields will use the remarks made by former UGA baseball player Adam Sasser as a reason to justify immediate eligibility. During the Tennessee game, Sasser was allegedly shouting racist remarks at Fields from the stands. Sasser was dismissed from the UGA baseball team after the incident.

Ohio State and Georgia are not scheduled to play each other at any point in the near future, though there is always the chance the two teams could meet in the College Football Playoff.

With Fields gone, Fromm is Georgia’s only scholarship quarterback on the roster at the moment, but reinforcements are coming. Georgia signed JUCO quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was a member of the 2017 Georgia team, and Dwan Mathis, a 4-star quarterback in the 2019 signing class, and both will enroll in January. Georgia also has a commitment from 4-star quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, but he is yet to sign a letter of intent.

As for the future of the position, Georgia did make the top 6 for 5-star 2020 quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who is the No. 1 quarterback in the 2020 class. Georgia also has been linked to 4-star quarterback Robbie Arnold as well.

Georgia opens the 2019 season against Vanderbilt on Aug. 31.

Justin Fields officially transferring from Georgia to Ohio State

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