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Justin Fields or Gunnar Hoak? Ohio State coach announces QB decision date
By Andrew Olson
Published:
When Justin Fields announced his transfer to Ohio State, the former 5-star recruit was talked about as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate who could lead the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff. Months later, with the kickoff of the 2019 season just weeks away, Fields hasn’t officially won the starting job.
Gunnar Hoak, a former Kentucky backup quarterback who arrived at OSU as a graduate transfer, is still contending for the job according to head coach Ryan Day. In his two seasons of action at Kentucky, Hoak completed 13-of-26 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. In his freshman season at UGA, Fields completed 27 of 39 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns while carrying the ball 42 times for 266 and four TDs.
Over the weekend, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said that neither quarterback had won the job. As you can imagine, Day is getting asked about the quarterback competition every time he meets with the media. On Wednesday, he officially set a decision date. Come Monday, either Fields will officially be named the starter or social media is going to be flooded with transfer jokes and memes.
Ryan Day’s press conference begins with @davebiddle asking the question that’s on everyone’s mind: “You ready to name a starting quarterback?”
Not yet, but Day said he is looking to name a starting quarterback in his next press conference on Monday after this week of practice.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 14, 2019
Many fans are wondering if Day has already made a decision, but hasn’t announced it publicly for whatever reason internal (Fields’ focus) or external (opposing coach’s game plan). He did tell reporters that Fields practices with the first team “for the most part,” so perhaps Hoak isn’t about to shock the world.
Ryan Day on the quarterbacks’ reps: “For the most part, when the ones have been out there, Justin has been out there.”
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 14, 2019
Day’s Buckeyes open the 2019 season against Lane Kiffin’s FAU Owls on Aug. 31.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
