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QB Fields to start Week 1 for Buckeyes

Field Level Media

August 19, 2019 at 5:32 pm.

Apr 13, 2019; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first half of the Spring Game at Ohio Stadium. Photo Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY SportsFormer five-star recruit Justin Fields will open the season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, first-year coach Ryan Day announced Monday.

Fields, ranked as the No. 2 player in the nation behind Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence in the Class of 2018, transferred from Georgia in January and received NCAA approval to play this season.

Also vying for the job were graduate transfers Gunnar Hoak from Kentucky and Chris Chugunov from West Virginia.

“We’ve decided to name Justin the starter for the first game against Florida Atlantic,” Day said, leaving the door open for the other quarterbacks to keep battling.

Day, who is succeeding the retired Urban Meyer, had said earlier he wanted to see all the quarterbacks in practice at length before deciding on a starter.

At Georgia in 2018, Fields was unable to beat out second-year quarterback Jake Fromm for the job and entered his name in the transfer portal after the SEC season ended. He appeared in 12 games but saw limited action for the Bulldogs, completing 27 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 266 yards and four scores.

His move to the Buckeyes caused a chain reaction, with redshirt sophomore Tate Martell transferring to Miami and redshirt freshman Matthew Baldwin transferring to TCU.

Ohio State, ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, opens the season against FAU in Columbus on Aug. 31.

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