BEAVERTON, Ore. — The world might just need to pump their brakes on 5-star QB Justin Fields.
Might.
He’s going to do this next commitment thing on his own timeline. I’d think every option is in play: Secretly committed. Will secretly commit. Commit in July. Commit in August. Wait. Take his visits.
Fields confirmed that possibility on Thursday during the first day of the 2017 Nike Opening finals from the company’s world headquarters in Oregon.
Will this be over before summer is over?
‘Probably not because I have no idea,” Fields said. “I wish I knew where I wanted to go.”
It’s important to remember he’s really under zero pressure here. These schools would love for him to conform to their own timeline. But it is important to remember that he’s not expected to enroll early in January of 2018.
Will he take five official visits before making a decision?
“Probably,” Fields said. “I’m going to try to take them in the beginning of the season.”
Justin Fields on UGA and other schools
Fields had an opinion this week about the big Zamir White news for Georgia.
“Their running back room is crazy,” he said. “It is really turning out to be RBU.” That “RBU” is the popular tagline for Running Back University.
He’s seen Georgia move toward the run-pass option and more of the modern sets over his last few visits. The Bulldogs have employed Terry Godwin into that rule to give him a look at a few zone read sets.
The Harrison High star said that he feels that the Bulldogs are moving in that direction not just to attract him, but to keep up with the times in modern college game plans.
“I mean you see Alabama doing it and going to the national championship,” Fields said. “I think they are really trying to move to that system kinda. They just don’t really have that guy yet.”
He said he’s aware of the academics and the offense at Georgia. His remaining visits will really fuel his other opinions about the program.
“It is now just seeing how the atmosphere is and seeing how everyone gels with each other,” he said. “That’s pretty much the reason why I am still visiting schools. It is just how well will I fit in? How well the coaching staff fits in with each other? I guess it is how well they get together?
Which schools are in it for Fields? We ticked them all off.
Those were Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Penn State. He also added USC, too.
Justin Fields on his other contenders
What did he think about that recent trip to Alabama? That was his first time in Tuscaloosa.
The experience that new offensive coordinator Brain Daboll garnered in the NFL was intriguing.
“I had never been there before, so it was definitely great talking to Coach Saban and all of the coaching staff,” Fields told SEC Country. “I like the way Coach Daboll coaches and just the experience he has and his style of coaching.”
He thinks that trip allowed Alabama to become a bigger player in his decision.
“Yeah, I think so,” Fields said. “I just love the way Coach Daboll coaches. Of course, they are going to contend for national championships every year. They also have most of the best players in college football. Just getting to practice with those guys every day is going to get you better.”
He’s still in constant contact with FSU.
“I talk to coach Dameyune Craig, (head coach Jimbo) Fisher and (quarterbacks coach) Sanders a lot,” he said. “I feel like that coaching staff — I feel like they gel the most together.”
Don’t expect him to make up his mind soon. Fields said he had no idea about his choice. Even though he would have liked to be further along in his decision.
“I wish I had a leader,” Fields said. “I have to be honest. But I don’t have any idea.”
Competition is not a factor for him. Basically anywhere. Not at Alabama. Not at Georgia. Those top-heavy depth charts are not a concern.
“There are great quarterbacks there,” Fields said. “At the end of the day, I feel like I’m a good quarterback, too. It’s just going to come down to who can make plays the best.”
What about Auburn? He discussed the Cam Newton factor with that school.
“I’m very close to Cam,” he said. “We used to communicate every week, but since 7-on-7 (season) is over, we kind of stopped a little bit. But, he’s talked to me about recruiting.
Fields worked as the primary quarterback for Newton 7-on-7 team this spring and early summer. There’s the perception out there that Newton will have an eventual position of influence on him.
I don’t really buy into that. Newton is not the one that will be waking up and working out and throwing footballs for him.
“He doesn’t really lean toward Auburn,” Fields said. “Of course you know he went there. He doesn’t lean toward any school. He wants me to make the best decision for me and my family.”
The nation’s No. 1 dual-threat QB prospect spoke to Steve Spurrier on his recent visit to Florida.
“He told me that Florida is just a great place,” Fields said. “I talked to him for like 10 minutes and he told me why he loves Florida so much. He also told me about the tradition and history they have there.”