Ohio State head coach Ryan Day announced Tuesday that sophomore Jayden Fielding will handle both kickoff and field goal duties for the Buckeyes this season.
Fielding was battling with redshirt junior Parker Lewis, and special teams coordinator Parker Fleming said last week that the competition between the pair was very close. But with the opener approaching at Indiana on Saturday, Day said that Fielding has separated from the competition.
“He’s done a really good job in the spring, did a nice job kicking off for us last year, and his overall consistency has allowed him to be the starter,” Day said.
Fielding has yet to attempt a field goal at Ohio State, though he did miss a 40-yarder in the spring game. He handled kickoffs for the Buckeyes last season, kicking off 105 times with a 61.8 yard average and 46 going for touchbacks and three going out of bounds.
He will replace Noah Ruggles, who kicked in each of the last two seasons for Ohio State and ranked sixth in extra points (148), ninth in kick scoring (259 points) and has the third-longest streak of consecutive extra points at 134. He also holds the program record for field-goal percentage, successfully converting 37 of his 41 attempts (90.2 percent) at Ohio State.
