Justin Fields will be first successful NFL quarterback from Ohio State

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had strong quarterbacks for a long time now, but they don’t pan out in the NFL. Justin Fields could end that streak next year.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had good fortune at the quarterback position, having a steady stream of playmakers through their program at the position. However, those players have struggled to perform at the next level. Luckily, Justin Fields is looking like the player that will end the drought.

Ohio State, along with the rest of the Big Ten, saw their football season finally begin on Saturday, and Fields once again looked impressive. A Heisman hopeful and rival to Trevor Lawrence for the best quarterback in college football, Fields came out firing and only strengthened his case for being a high draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

One difference between Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence that teams could consider might have nothing to do with them, and that’s the pedigree of their institutions. Clemson has been able to at least produce Deshaun Watson of late while Ohio State has had blunder after blunder at the NFL level.

The most recent Ohio State Buckeye to draw hype and fall short of expectations at the NFL level is Dwayne Haskins. Haskins appeared in just 13 games, starting 11, before being placed on the bench of the Washington Football Team a few weeks ago. The concerns for Haskins began after he fell in the 2019 NFL Draft to Washington with the 15th selection. Now, we’re seeing why.

Unfortunately, Haskins isn’t the only name that Justin Fields will need to overcome this season to help his draft stock. The shortcomings began in the 1982 NFL Draft after Art Schlichter was taken fourth overall to the then Baltimore Colts. Schlichter played in just 13 games during his career, losing all six games he started while throwing just three touchdowns compared to his 11 interceptions.

More from NFL Mocks

The long line of NFL misses continued from Schlichter through time for Ohio State. Perhaps the most successful Buckeye quarterback in the NFL was Terrelle Pryor, who made his greatest impact as a wide receiver. Pryor had over 1,000 receiving yards for the Cleveland Browns in 2016 and also tallied a 3-7 record as the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders between the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

So what makes Justin Fields different? What will set him apart from the rest of the quarterbacks to go through Ohio State? Obviously, his ability on the field will play a factor, but more importantly, timing.

Fields isn’t the first dual threat quarterback to play for the Buckeyes, but his timing could make the difference, as well as his ability to throw the ball. While players like Pryor, Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett had the athleticism of Fields, they didn’t have the arm skills, being both strength and accuracy.

The timing for Fields is that he fits what NFL teams are now looking for in their quarterbacks. That’s the ability to make plays both on the ground and through the air. The last two MVPs of the league have been able to do that and this year’s favorite in Russell Wilson fits the same mold, as do many others around the league. While pocket passers are still valued, mobility is becoming increasingly more important each week.

For Justin Fields at Ohio State, he used the first game of the season against Nebraska to showcase his ability to be productive in both aspects of the offensive game. On the ground, Fields rushed for 54 yards on 15 carries, but added a touchdown, coming on a game high 17-yard rush. As for the air attack, Fields was near perfect, completing 20-of-21 pass attempts for 276 yards and two scores.

Those numbers are what we should expect from Fields throughout the season as he improves his portfolio for the NFL. Last year, Fields rushed the ball 137 times for 484 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and finding the end zone 10 times. The passing game was similar as well, logging a 67.2 completion percentage for Ohio State that resulted in 3,273 passing yards and 41 touchdowns with just three interceptions.

dark. Next. NFL quarterbacks who may be traded

If Fields can prove that his numbers from 2019 weren’t a fluke and he is able to put up repeated success, his draft stock should continue to rise. While many thought Haskins would be the Ohio State quarterback to finally find success in the NFL, it will in fact be Justin Fields.

His skill set is exactly what NFL teams are looking for and his leadership capabilities complement it perfectly. Expect to hear Fields’ name for years to come in the NFL as he becomes the first Ohio State quarterback to see sustained success at the next level.

Home/NFL Hot Takes